European Consumer Price Indices since 1870

Jonas Ljungberg ()
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Jonas Ljungberg: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Postal: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Box 7083, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden

No 252, Lund Papers in Economic History from Lund University, Department of Economic History

Abstract: This paper presents a database with the probably most up-to date and reliable consumer price indices for a large sample of European countries since 1870. The database is a compilation but a contribution by going back to original or ignored works. For some Eastern European countries, where CPIs have been missing, new provisional indices are constructed. It critically examines historical CPIs in oft-used online databases and uncover some alarming inaccuracies and even fallacies. Despite the importance of accurate CPIs in long-term analyses, previously little effort has been put in assessing the quality and comparability of data between countries. Realism of the CPIs is examined within a framework of economic integration, that qualifies received views. Lack of integration of Mediterranean countries before mid-twentieth century is validated, and contradictory patterns of integration in interwar and post-war Europe uncovered.

Keywords: consumer price indices; cost of living; source criticism; economic integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E31 N13 N14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 56 pages
Date: 2023-09-14
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-mon
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:luekhi:0252

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