Colonial investments significantly shaped long-term political and economic outcomes, yet little was known about their origins or uneven distribution within colonies.

Geography of Colonial Investment

New data reveals highly unequal investment patterns across sixteen former British and French African colonies.

* Natural harbors: Proximity to natural harbors and capes fostered pre-colonial coastal trade, attracting disproportionate colonial investment in infrastructure, health, and education.

* Trading posts: Investment diffusion within each colony was explained by distance from these early trading centers.

Limited Alternative Explanations

Contrary to expectations, investments were not strongly driven by natural resources or pre-colonial ethnic characteristics (including political centralization). These findings suggest colonial economic logic alone cannot explain regional disparities.