Authors: Ali Almelhem , Murat Iyigun , Austin Kennedy , Jared Rubin

Abstract:

We trace the evolution of the language of science, religion, and political economy in the centuries leading to the British Industrial Revolution. Using textual analysis of 264,443 works printed in England between 1500 and 1900, we test whether British culture manifested a belief in progress associated with science and industry. Our analysis yields three main findings. First, there was a separation in the languages of science and religion beginning in the mid-eighteenth century. Second, volumes using language at the nexus of science and political economy became more progress-oriented during the Enlightenment. Third, volumes using industrial language—especially those at the science-political economy nexus—were more progress-oriented beginning in the eighteenth century.

Published on The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Volume 141, Issue 1, February 2026, Pages 263–314.

Open Access: https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjaf054

Distribution of Volumes

The distribution of volumes smoothed over 20-year intervals is available in Online Appendix  Figure B.1.