Economic growth in a slave plantation society : the case of Jamaica, 1750-1805

Reid, Ahmed N.

Abstract

This dissertation is an economic impact assessment of Jamaica's plantation economy from 1750 to 1805. In doing so, it measures and examines growth in completely new ways by employing, as indicators, output, land prices, labour flows and prices, national income, and productivity trends.

The study maintains that, rather than declining, the economy was growing, with most of that growth taking place during the decade before the Transatlantic Trade in Africans was abolished in 1807. Growth was also facilitated by the policies adopted by planters to reorganize the plantation system. The presence of enslaved labour did not render the system inefficient. In fact, the economic reality was quite the opposite. The conclusion, therefore, is that with sufficient evidence of growth and productivity, abolition was not predicated only on negative cost benefit considerations.

Citation

Reid, A. N. Economic growth in a slave plantation society : the case of Jamaica, 1750-1805. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4220391

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 22, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Keywords: History
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4220391
• Additional Information: Department of History, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Jul 1, 2007