Historical Data: Where to Find Them, How to Use Them

Paola Giuliano and Andrea Matranga

No 15362, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: The use of historical data has become a standard tool in economics, serving three main purposes: to examine the influence of the past on current economic outcomes; to use unique natural experiments to test modern economic theories; and to use modern economic theories to refine our understanding of important historical events. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the types of historical data most commonly used in economic research and discuss a variety of issues that they raise, such as the constant change in national and administrative borders; the reshuffling of ethnic groups due to migration, colonialism, natural disasters, and many other forces. We also point out which methodological advances allow economists to overcome or minimize these problems.

Keywords: Historical data; Geographical data; Ethnographic data; Censuses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: Historical Data: Where to Find Them, How to Use Them (2020)
Working Paper: Historical Data: Where to Find Them, How to Use Them (2020)
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