International Trade and African Economic Development

This thesis first uses international trade data to estimate GDP for 17 African countries from the early 1800s to 1950. It then explores the effect of international trade on the labour markets and structural change in African economies and finds that trade may have the unanticipated impact of causing the wrong kind of structural change and labour market composition in Africa. It is, therefore, crucial to ensure that African countries are first put in a position to benefit from good policies like international trade before embarking on them.