Accounting for Colonialism

Measuring Unjust Enrichment and Damages in Africa

Richard F. America

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2024
• Print ISBN: 9783031328039
• eBook ISBN: 9783031328046
• Topic: Economics
• Subtopic: Development Economics
• Index: Economics

This book examines qualitatively and quantitatively the exploitation of Africa through six centuries of colonialism and imperialism. The contributions build on previous qualitative analyses. The chapters introduce new ways to measure some of the coerced income and wealth transfers to Europe and North America through systematic underpayments and overcharges. This wealth was wrongfully accumulated using many forms of their abuse of dominance. 

The book provides estimates that will be helpful to understanding the growing  debate on "reparations." This also contributes to rethinking international development assistance policy. It helps establish a basis for improved estimates of  the gains from past and current practices that worked against African economic, social, and political institutions and systems. 

 

This edited volume showcases a variety of scholars with diverse perspectives and establishes, for the first time, the extent of wrongful benefits and damages from 600 years of international harm to the African continent.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Front Matter
• 1. Introduction
• Part I. Historical Context
• Part II. Who Benefits and How Much—From Wrongful Taking, Illicit Transactions, and Hidden Subsidies?
• Part III. Unequal Exchange—Can Labor Theory of Value, and Unequal Exchange, Provide Useful Analysis?
• Part IV. Forensic Analysis–How Large the Damages?—Answering the “But For” Questions–Can Forensic Analysis Apply?–Damages for Personal Injury, and Wrongful Death–“Who Knows Where Africa Would Be?”–Blocked Alternative Growth Paths–Interference and Loss of Potential Profits–Business Interruption 1519–2023
• Back Matter