Nature or Nurture? Explaining English Wheat Yields in the Industrial Revolution, c.1770

Liam Brunt

The Journal of Economic History, 2004, vol. 64, issue 1, 193-225

Abstract: This article presents the first agricultural production function for the eighteenth century, thereby quantifying the effect of many new technologies coming on stream in English agriculture. It shows that some traditional technologies were effective in raising wheat yields, such as drainage and marling; but some innovations of the eighteenth century were much more effective, particularly turnips and seed drills. Environmental factors are incorporated into the model. Climate is shown to be a crucial factor in determining yields but soil quality was much less important. This undermines the accepted argument that England's success was due to a superior natural endowment.

Date: 2004
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