Raubwirtschaft

Raubwirtschaft (German for "plunder economy," "robber economy," or "rapine") is a form of economy where the goal is to plunder the wealth and resources of a country or geographical area. "Koloniale Raubwirtschaft" describes a form of colony with the same goal and with no intention of developing the colony economically. The term is also used in a non-geographical sense, somewhat similar to the term "rapine."

The term "Raubwirtschaft" is often used to describe some late 19th-century colonial and post-colonial practices during the Scramble for Africa. The Congo Free State of Leopold II of Belgium is frequently described as a "Raubwirtschaft".

One form of "Raubwirtschaft" is to start war against one's neighbours and then either plunder their national property and asset or extort them as war reparations.

The term is also used to describe the rainforest destructionFact|date=March 2007. In a non-geographical sense, it may describe the illicit antiquities tradeFact|date=March 2007.

Arnold J. Toynbee has stated the economy of the Roman Empire was based on "Raubwirtschaft". Rome basically plundered the conquered territories and milked the provinces dry; there was little cash flow from Rome to the provinces. The internal economy was based on slavery, and unpaid work had no purchase power, which effectively also prevented the rise of middle class and capitalism since there was no volatile capital to accumulate. Since there was no production of market goods for export, there was no cash flow into the empire either from outside. The economy could be maintained only as long as the Empire was on expanse; once the era of conquests ended on "Pax Romana", the empire was doomed.