Colonial Legacies and Economic Growth - Essay Example

On Colonial Legacies and Economic Growth Robin Grier d that “the length of colonization is positively and significantly correlated with economic growth” (p. 64) and that “the longer it was held by the mother country, the better it did economically in the post-colonial era” (Grier, p 65), meaning that “time is positively and significantly related to economic growth” (p. 65). I agree with Grier on all these points. Longer colonization time means a longer time for the colonists to train and teach the natives.

Together with the length of time, the kind of rule they practice is also a big factor to post-colonial growth and development. This includes the kind of education and the way they educate the natives. I agree with Grier’s statement that education is an important component of growth and development. It will result to a more educated population capable of assuming the roles and responsibilities of governance that will eventually be in their hands once independence is achieved. The British approach of involving people in the development of their communities such as teachers belonging to the tribe (p. 66) and relying on the natives to run the colonial civil service (p. 67) means they have considered the natives’ views regarding how a community must be handled and ruled.

Also, by letting some of the natives become teachers, it did not seem that they were dictating how and what education should be like which resulted to the natives becoming more accepting of the new ideas and knowledge that they learn from the colonists. Work CitedGrier, Robin M. " Colonial Legacies and Economic Growth," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 98(3-4), (1999) pages 317-35. Print.