african nation of benin becomes industrialized like japan, major power in africa

[Hendryk]

Even now, in the 21st century, countries that sit on precious resources seldom take the trouble to industrialize, they just export, watch the money flow in, and usually waste it on graft and clientelism. Slaves were to Benin (or more accurately Dahomey) what oil now is to Nigeria, diamonds to Congo/Zaire, etc.

 

[Othniel]

...mmmm...true. But couldn't they have a made a LOT more money?

Who is going to think like that when you are being given money just to do something you do everyday? Why put your men at risk? Why go out for profit when you are profiting right there? As they may have thought, why fix what isn't broke? They didn't have to produce anything of their own, the Europeans did it. All slaves they got came from lesser wild tribes. Basically it was a situation where they got paid alot for doing very little on their own. They were just a middle man.

Thats the thing about middle men, especially in retail. They buy it at a low price (the manufacture makes it), and sell it to those don't have it. (the consumer) Benin and other African Countries had that role. Why cut out those that gave them the profits?