How did colonialism contribute to current economic disparities in formerly colonized nations, particularly in terms of wealth distribution?

Colonialism often led to the exploitation of resources and people in colonized nations, which created wealth for the colonizers while leaving local populations impoverished. Colonizers took valuable resources like gold, silver, and crops, and established systems that favored their own economic interests. This created a situation where wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few, often foreign companies or local elites, while the majority of the population remained poor. For example, in many African countries, the colonial powers built infrastructure like railways, but these were primarily designed to transport resources to ports for export, not to benefit local communities. As a result, the patterns of inequality established during colonial times have persisted, making it difficult for these nations to achieve balanced economic growth today.