Colonial (Dis)Integration: Concession Companies and Human Development in Mozambique

In the 1890s, Portugal granted vast concessions to two private companies with the goal to administrate and develop part of its colony, Mozambique. The concession companies levied taxes and enforced labour with a policy of violence and terror. Using a geographic regression discontinuity design, I show that the concession system has had mixed effects on contemporary development outcomes. My results aim to advance the understanding of the colonial origins of the lack of integration in Mozambique.., Portugal granted vast concessions to two private companies with the goal to administrate and develop part of its colony., Mozambique. The concession companies levied taxes and enforced labour with a policy of violence and terror. Using a geographic regression discontinuity design., I show that the concession system has had mixed effects on contemporary development outcomes. My results aim to advance the understanding of the colonial origins of the lack of integration in Mozambique.