Industrialization and Urbanization: Did the Steam Engine Contribute to the Growth of Cities in the United States?

Sukkoo Kim

No 11206, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Industrialization and urbanization are seen as interdependent processes of modern economic development. However, the exact nature of their causal relationship is still open to considerable debate. This paper uses firm-level data from the manuscripts of the decennial censuses between 1850 and 1880 to examine whether the adoption of the steam engine as the primary power source by manufacturers during industrialization contributed to urbanization. While the data indicate that steam-powered firms were more likely to locate in urban areas than water-powered firms, the adoption of the steam engine did not contribute substantially to urbanization.

JEL-codes: N60 N90 R38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-geo, nep-tid and nep-ure
Note: DAE
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

Published as Kim, Sukkoo. "Industrialization And Urbanization: Did The Steam Engine Contribute To The Growth Of Cities In The United States?," Explorations in Economic History, 2005, v42(4,Oct), 586-598.

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