Leevan Djirosse | 2026 I.S. Symposium

Name: Leevan Djirosse
Title: The Intersection of Colonial Legacies, Institutions, and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Major: Economics
Advisor: Amyaz Moledina

This study explores how different colonial governing styles continue to shape economic and human development in Sub-Saharan Africa today. Specifically, it compares British “indirect rule” (governing through local leaders) and French “direct rule” (centralized control) to see if they created lasting differences in institutions and well-being. The research argues that colonial legacies affect development through two main pathways. First, they influence how strong and effective a country’s institutions are, such as how well governments manage resources and provide services. Stronger institutions tend to support higher incomes and better public services. Second, colonial experiences, especially more coercive ones, can shape people’s trust in government, which affects whether they use services like healthcare and education. To measure how well countries turn income into better living conditions, the study creates new indicators comparing GDP per person with outcomes in health and human development from 1990 to 2015. The results show large differences across countries. Importantly, simply having a British or French colonial history does not consistently explain these differences. Instead, the quality of governance, especially control of corruption, plays a much bigger role. Better governance improves how effectively income translates into well-being, while mistrust rooted in colonial experiences can weaken this link.

Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.