Accounting for the Traffic in Africans: Transport Costs on Slaving Voyages

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic History
Year: 2010
Volume: 70
Issue: 4
Pages: 940-963

Authors (3)

Eltis, David (not in RePEc) Lewis, Frank D. McIntyre, Kimberly (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Relying mainly on the manuscript records of the Royal African Company, we explore the factors that contributed to the large gap between slave prices in Africa and the Caribbean. Twenty-two voyages from the mid-1680s are analyzed. These were conducted with hired ships and the payments to the shipowners and captains were recorded. In addition to transport costs, mortality and morbidity had a big effect on slave prices; while the earnings from the trade in gold and ivory had a moderating influence. The effect of mortality and transport costs on slave prices during the eighteenth century is also explored.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:cup:jechis:v:70:y:2010:i:04:p:940-963_00
Journal Field
Economic History
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25