ARTICLES
The panopticon of Germany’s foreign trade, 1880–1913: New facts on the first globalization
Wolf-Fabian Hungerland and Nikolaus Wolf
Pages 479–507
https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/heac001
We present and analyze the panopticon of Germany’s foreign trade, with new data on all products, all trade partners, quantities, and values, at annual frequency, 1880–1913. Historical product categories are reclassified according to the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) to ensure comparability over time and across countries. Germany became increasingly specialized in manufacturing, in line with theories of comparative advantage. However, most trade growth occurred along the extensive margin, and 20–25 percent of trade was intra-industry trade, at five-digit SITC. Both facts suggest substantial within-sector heterogeneity. We discuss why this matters for our understanding of the first globalization.
The paradox of “Malthusian urbanization”: urbanization without growth in the Republic of Genoa, 1300–1800
Luigi Oddo and Andrea Zanini
Pages 508–534
https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/heab027
This paper investigates the relationships between urbanization and long-term economic growth in the pre-industrial world. To this end, we compiled a novel dataset collecting all currently available data on urban and rural populations in an Italian pre-unification state, the Republic of Genoa. Data show the paradoxical coexistence of high urbanization levels with cyclical Malthusian stagnations. Putting together empirical results and historical evidence, we interpreted this puzzle, highlighting how a high degree of urbanization could be the consequence of widespread poverty, rather than a measure of rising standards of living. To describe this phenomenon, we coined the term “Malthusian urbanization”.
Benchmarking the Middle Ages: fifteenth century Tuscany in European perspective
Jan Luiten van Zanden and Emanuele Felice
Pages 535–554
https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/heac003
The article presents GDP estimates for fifteenth century Tuscany, based on the 1427 Florentine Catasto. In per capita GDP, Tuscany was only slightly above England and Holland. Furthermore, when compared to England and Holland, Tuscany was characterized by high extractive rates in favor of Florence, to the detriment of the subdued cities and the countryside, and by subsequent market blockades. This may explain why previous estimates, partly based on the construction wages in Florence, can lead to an overestimate of GDP. It may also explain the exceptional artistic blossoming of fifteenth century Florence, despite only a small lead in average GDP.
Trade globalization and social spending in Spain, 1850–2000
Sergio Espuelas
Pages 555–578
https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/heac006
Between 1850 and 2000, Spanish trade openness experienced major changes. What was the impact on social spending? The econometric results suggest that globalization effect was conditional on fiscal capacity. When fiscal capacity was high (after the 1960s), trade openness had a positive effect on social spending. However, when fiscal capacity was low, trade openness effect was negative. The results are robust to alternative measures of fiscal capacity and consistent with a placebo test. Both the compensation effect and the race-to-the-bottom hypothesis find some empirical support: the final outcome depends on fiscal capacity.
Political power of the press in the Weimar Republic
Bang Dinh Nguyen
Pages 579–611
https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/heac002
This paper examines how changes in newspaper circulation affected voter turnout, party vote shares, and mass polarization in Weimar Berlin. My empirical strategy exploits variation in the development of railway system across historical districts of Berlin, which influenced the circulation of newspapers. I find that an increase in newspaper circulation significantly induced higher turnout in fourteen outer districts and a higher degree of mass polarization. Partisan newspapers benefitted party vote shares, with stronger effects in federal elections than in local elections. The electoral influence of newspapers was driven by tabloids and mass newspapers, and not by elite political newspapers.
Gender and the long-run development process. A survey of the literature
Youssouf Merouani and Faustine Perrin
Pages 612–641
https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/heac008
Why do certain countries display high gender equalities while others display low gender equalities? To what extent does gender equality foster economic growth and development? The past decade has witnessed a boom and increasing literature about the role played by women and gender in long-run economic development. The increasing awareness of economics and economic history have contributed to improve our understanding of the crucial role played by women in the process of economic development. This paper reviews the literature on the topic and opens the discussion on current challenges and avenues for future research.
