The British Overseas Banks and Development Finance in Africa after 1945

Bibliographic Data

ID8419735
AuthorsFrances Bostock (University of Reading), F A Bostock (University of Reading, corresponding author)
Year1991
Volume33
Issue3
Pages157-176
Publication date1991-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueBusiness History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-6791 • E-ISSN: 1743-7938
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00076799100000106
OpenAlexW2068614165
LanguageEN
Citations received8

The role of the British overseas banks in the provision of medium- and long-term finance in British colonial Africa is examined, with special reference to the establishment of the bank development corporations after the Second World War. The origins of the banks' involvement in development financing are traced, and in particular those of the Barclays Overseas Development Corporation, the first in the field. It is argued that, although their performance was modest, at least it was not as disastrous as the initial performance of the public sector Colonial Development Corporation. The three bank development corporations, and the medium- and long-term lending undertaken by the fourth British bank operating in British colonial Africa, filled a necessary gap in the financial structure of these territories at a time when the British banks were often the only commercial banks in existence

Business · Colonialism · Corporation · Economic history · Economics · Economy · Financial system · Medium term · Political science · African history and culture studies · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Finance · Law · South African History and Culture

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