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Event Description

The Economic Legacy of Colonialism Among Indigenous Populations in North America

Until recently, economists have largely excluded Indigenous peoples from economic research; however, economics provides a powerful toolkit that can be used to understand the legacy of colonialism, the impact of contemporary policies, as well as potential avenues for future prosperity. This talk will discuss the growing economic literature that centers Indigenous communities and peoples with a focus on human capital acquisition. We will begin with a discussion of how historical events, including colonial processes, have shaped the current economic landscape. Moving into the present, we will survey papers that attempt to provide causal estimates of contemporary policies. Lessons from the past and present will be discussed throughout. We will conclude by pointing out some of the limitations of economic research in this space.