The economic structures inherited from colonial rule often manifest today as persistent developmental bottlenecks. Historically, the focus was rarely on building diversified, self-sustaining domestic markets; rather, infrastructure and resource extraction were tailored to serve metropolitan industrial needs. This imposed specialization created economies highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices, a pattern visible across many South Asian nations. However, attributing modern economic disparity solely to colonial remnants overlooks significant internal agency. Local elites, post-independence, often adopted these very extractive frameworks for political stability or international integration. Therefore, while the initial structural scaffolding remains problematic—favoring primary exports over complex manufacturing bases—the perpetuation of these legacies is not purely deterministic; it involves ongoing local choices regarding governance and investment priorities.

According to the passage, what is the central argument regarding the relationship between colonial legacies and modern economies?

Question

The economic structures inherited from colonial rule often manifest today as persistent developmental bottlenecks. Historically, the focus was rarely on building diversified, self-sustaining domestic markets; rather, infrastructure and resource extraction were tailored to serve metropolitan industrial needs. This imposed specialization created economies highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices, a pattern visible across many South Asian nations. However, attributing modern economic disparity solely to colonial remnants overlooks significant internal agency. Local elites, post-independence, often adopted these very extractive frameworks for political stability or international integration. Therefore, while the initial structural scaffolding remains problematic—favoring primary exports over complex manufacturing bases—the perpetuation of these legacies is not purely deterministic; it involves ongoing local choices regarding governance and investment priorities.

According to the passage, what is the central argument regarding the relationship between colonial legacies and modern economies?

Accepted Answer

While colonial frameworks created vulnerabilities through specialization, modern economic outcomes are also heavily influenced by subsequent local governance decisions.. A is incorrect because the passage explicitly states that attributing disparity solely to colonialism overlooks internal agency. B is correct because it accurately synthesizes the initial problem (colonial scaffolding) with the counterpoint (local choices). C is incorrect because the passage suggests ongoing local *choices* are at play, not a universal mandate for abandoning models. D is incorrect because the passage implies that structural issues persist and emphasizes local control over external forces as the key variable.