having a colonial present (being actively colonized) is an overall economic detriment—due to the traditionally extractive nature of colonial policy swamping the benefits of good institutions.
Colonies were extractive at first, but as they were filled with white emigrés over time their economies diversified and infrastructure began to be built, which also improved the lot of the natives in some cases (but I don’t know how general this positive externality was). For example, after the Belgian government annexed the Congo Free State after its catastrophic mismanagement and abuses, the colonial authorities devoted tremendous effort into educating the native Congolese and providing healthcare. Black-owned enterprises flourished, literacy skyrocketed, and the infant mortality rates in the major cities compared favorably with Western standards.
For example, after the Belgian government annexed the Congo Free State after its catastrophic mismanagement and abuses, the colonial authorities devoted tremendous effort into educating the native Congolese and providing healthcare.
Colonies were extractive at first, but as they were filled with white emigrés over time their economies diversified and infrastructure began to be built, which also improved the lot of the natives in some cases (but I don’t know how general this positive externality was). For example, after the Belgian government annexed the Congo Free State after its catastrophic mismanagement and abuses, the colonial authorities devoted tremendous effort into educating the native Congolese and providing healthcare. Black-owned enterprises flourished, literacy skyrocketed, and the infant mortality rates in the major cities compared favorably with Western standards.
And then it all went to shit …
Using Congo as an exemplar, in the context of this particular post, has a degree of irony.