This paper provides, for
the first time, estimations about the evolution and determinant factors for
slave prices in Montevideo between 1760 and 1825. It uses a database built from
the post-mortem inventories conserved in the Judicial Archive in Uruguay; which
contains 503 records.
Observations made by
appraisers regarding slaves, show that the attributes that affect their price setting
are: their health and nutritional status, job qualifications and age. These
variables, along with sex, are tested as price determinants through the using
of econometric models. The results, in line with findings for other regions of
the Americas, show that age, illness, and skill qualifications are significant
variables to explain price. However, sex was not proven to be significant.
Additionally, the data recovered is not enough to conclude that the price of
slaves has suffered any significant increases or decreases in this period.
