ECON 240T Colonialism and Underdevelopment in South Asia (Not offered 2006-2007) (W)*
How did colonialism shape the evolution of the economies of South Asia? There
is much controversy on this issue, beginning with whether the colonial economy
really represented a radical break from the past. With this as our starting point,
we will discuss major themes in this literature including the theory of "drain" (of
economic surplus from the colonies),"deindustrialization" due to competition
from cheap British manufactured goods, the impact of colonial legal institutions
and land tenure arrangements, and colonial policies with respect to education,
infrastructure, trade, and financial markets. The course will conclude with an
assessment of the extent to which the economies of India, Pakistan, and
Bangladesh still reflect their colonial past, and the consequences thereof.
Format: tutorial. Requirements: papers.
Prerequisites: Economics 110. Enrollment limit: 10.