Botswana - A Modern Economic History

Highlights lessons from Botswana's economic history that are relevant for understanding historical as well as contemporary experiences of economic growth and (lacking) structural transformation in natural resource abundant and dependent countries Provides an in-depth study identifying drivers of inequality taking place during the diamond-led economy Considers consequences of colonial economic strategies including taxes and government transfers Discusses what could happen when the diamonds run out and the window of opportunity has not been used to create sustainable economic development

Ellen Hillbom is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economic History, Lund University, Sweden. Her research focuses on Southern and Eastern Africa and addresses both historical and contemporary cases of agricultural and structural transformation, long-term inequality trends, natural resource dependency, property rights regimes governing agricultural resources, and smallholder production and commercialization. Jutta Bolt is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economic History, Lund University, Sweden and affiliated with the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Her research focuses on understanding long-term comparative economic development patterns, with a special focus on Africa. Current research projects include demographic developments, long-term agricultural productivity and the historical origins of present-day income inequality. In addition she works in the Maddison Project measuring long-run global economic development.

Part IChapter 1: An African Diamond in the RoughChapter 2:  Pre-Colonial Economy and Society, c. 1850-1930Part IIChapter 3: Colonial Policies and the Cattle Economy, c. 1930-1975Part IIIChapter 4: Growth, Incomes and Development, c. 1940-PresentChapter 5: Trapped by Diamonds, c. 1975-PresentChapter 6: Inequality of Incomes and Opportunity, c. 1920-PresentPart IVChapter 7: Conclusion