Colonial sugar cultivation in Java and its long-term economic effects: a district-level perspective.
(2024) EKHS42 20241Department of Economic History
- Abstract
- This thesis aims to study the long-term impact of extractive institutions structured around colonial sugar cultivation on economic development in Java. A spatial district-level model is used in combination with a panel data approach. Two different indicators of colonial sugar cultivation are analysed: one measuring the Cultivation System and one measuring the Liberal Period. The findings suggest that sugar cultivation had a beneficial effect in rural districts and resulted in mixed outcomes in urban districts. Further analysis suggests that the underlying mechanisms are likely structured around agricultural systems. The colonial accumulation of wealth and (unintended) investments are identified as a first potential channel of persistence.... (More)
- This thesis aims to study the long-term impact of extractive institutions structured around colonial sugar cultivation on economic development in Java. A spatial district-level model is used in combination with a panel data approach. Two different indicators of colonial sugar cultivation are analysed: one measuring the Cultivation System and one measuring the Liberal Period. The findings suggest that sugar cultivation had a beneficial effect in rural districts and resulted in mixed outcomes in urban districts. Further analysis suggests that the underlying mechanisms are likely structured around agricultural systems. The colonial accumulation of wealth and (unintended) investments are identified as a first potential channel of persistence. The second mechanism revolves around the persistence of inequality-reducing colonial land tenure systems into contemporary institutions. The results highlight the need for a re-evaluation of existing persistence frameworks and emphasize the importance for policymakers to also consider potential beneficial outcomes of extractive institutions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9167099
- author
- Broos, Nafthali LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- EKHS42 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Colonialism, sugar cultivation, extractive institutions, colonial inequality, Java
- language
- English
- id
- 9167099
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-24 12:19:59
- date last changed
- 2024-06-24 12:19:59
@misc{9167099, abstract = {{This thesis aims to study the long-term impact of extractive institutions structured around colonial sugar cultivation on economic development in Java. A spatial district-level model is used in combination with a panel data approach. Two different indicators of colonial sugar cultivation are analysed: one measuring the Cultivation System and one measuring the Liberal Period. The findings suggest that sugar cultivation had a beneficial effect in rural districts and resulted in mixed outcomes in urban districts. Further analysis suggests that the underlying mechanisms are likely structured around agricultural systems. The colonial accumulation of wealth and (unintended) investments are identified as a first potential channel of persistence. The second mechanism revolves around the persistence of inequality-reducing colonial land tenure systems into contemporary institutions. The results highlight the need for a re-evaluation of existing persistence frameworks and emphasize the importance for policymakers to also consider potential beneficial outcomes of extractive institutions.}}, author = {{Broos, Nafthali}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{Colonial sugar cultivation in Java and its long-term economic effects: a district-level perspective.}}, year = {{2024}}, }