The Slave Trade and the Origins of Mistrust in Africa

TLDR

The study investigates how historical slave trades explain present‑day variations in African trust levels. Using individual survey data linked to historical slave shipment records, the authors trace lower contemporary trust to ancestral slave raids and attribute the effect mainly to internal cultural norms and values. Multiple identification strategies confirm a causal link between ancestral slave raids and reduced trust today. JEL codes: J15, N57, Z13.

Abstract

We show that current differences in trust levels within Africa can be traced back to the transatlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades. Combining contemporary individual-level survey data with historical data on slave shipments by ethnic group, we find that individuals whose ancestors were heavily raided during the slave trade are less trusting today. Evidence from a variety of identification strategies suggests that the relationship is causal. Examining causal mechanisms, we show that most of the impact of the slave trade is through factors that are internal to the individual, such as cultural norms, beliefs, and values. (JEL J15, N57, Z13)