Slaves Prices from Succession and Bankruptcy Sales in Mauritius, 1825-1827
CIRPEE Working Paper No. 03-09
25 Pages Posted: 15 May 2003
Date Written: January 2003
Abstract
We construct a unique data set from succession and bankruptcy sales in Mauritius to investigate the determinants of slave prices between 1825 and 1827. We find that males, females sold with children, skilled slaves and slaves sold during the peak sugar cane harvest season all fetched higher prices. In comparison, handicapped and non-native slaves were sold at a discount. Moreover, the young-children premium increased over the period. This may indicate that slave owners did not think that slavery would be abolished in the near future or thought that they would be compensated in such an event.
Keywords: Slavery, slave price, Mauritius
JEL Classification: N37
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation