Human Capital Investment in a Late-Developing Economy: Evidence from Württemberg, c. 1600 – c. 1900

Sheilagh Ogilvie and Markus Küpker

Cambridge Working Papers in Economics from Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge

Abstract: Modern growth models view human capital, particularly education, as central to economic growth. But historical evidence has proved elusive. This paper investigates human capital levels in Württemberg, a late-developing German economy, between 1610 and 1899. Württemberg achieved higher and more universal literacy than any other European economy before 1800. A multivariate analysis reveals that this exceptional level of human capital in Württemberg was largely decoupled from economic variables from a very early date. Literacy declined significantly with individuals’ age, suggesting that education was irrelevant to economic life. The Württemberg human capital miracle was unrelated to economic growth or human development indicators, casting doubt on theories that ascribe education a central role in economic growth.

Keywords: capital; education; growth; Germany (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E24 J24 N33 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-09-29
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gro, nep-his, nep-hrm and nep-mac
Note: sco2
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cam:camdae:1528

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