The rise and fall of Spain (1270-1850)

Carlos Álvarez Nogal and Leandro Prados de la Escosura ()
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Carlos Álvarez-Nogal ()

IFCS - Working Papers in Economic History.WH from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Instituto Figuerola

Abstract: Two distinctive regimes are distinguished in Spain over half-a-millennium. A first one (1270s-1590s) corresponds to a high land-labour ratio frontier economy, pastoral, trade-oriented, and led by towns. Wages and food consumption were relatively high. Sustained per capita growth occurred from the Reconquest’s end (1264) to the Black Death (1340s) and resumed from the 1390s only broken by late- 15th century turmoil. A second regime (1600s-1810s) corresponds to a more agricultural and densely populated low-wage economy which grew along a lower path. Contrary to preindustrial Western Europe, Spain achieved her highest living standards in the 1340s, not by mid-15th century. Although its population toll was lower, the Plague had a more damaging impact on Spain and, far from releasing non-existent demographic pressure, destroyed the equilibrium between scarce population and abundant resources. Pre-1350 per capita income was reached by the late 16th century but only overcome after 1820.

Keywords: Decline; Western; Europe; Preindustrial; Spain; Frontier; economy; Reconquest; Black; Death; Rise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E01 N13 O47 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-mac
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The rise and fall of Spain (1270–1850) (2013)
Working Paper: The Rise and Fall of Spain (1270-1850) (2011)
Working Paper: The rise and fall of Spain, 1270-1850 (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cte:whrepe:wp11-02

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