The Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire

Andrei Markevich and Ekaterina Zhuravskaya

American Economic Review, 2018, vol. 108, issue 4-5, 1074-1117

Abstract: We document substantial increases in agricultural productivity, industrial output, and peasants' nutrition in Imperial Russia as a result of the abolition of serfdom in 1861. Before the emancipation, provinces where serfs constituted the majority of agricultural laborers lagged behind provinces that primarily relied on free labor. The emancipation led to a significant but partial catch up. Better incentives of peasants resulting from the cessation of ratchet effect were a likely mechanism behind a relatively fast positive effect of reform on agricultural productivity. The land reform, which instituted communal land tenure after the emancipation, diminished growth in productivity in repartition communes.

JEL-codes: J47 N13 N33 N43 N53 Q11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.20160144
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (37)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2018)
Working Paper: The Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2018)
Working Paper: Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2018)
Working Paper: The Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2018)
Working Paper: The Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2017)
Working Paper: The Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2017)
Working Paper: Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2015)
Working Paper: Economic Effects of the Abolition of Serfdom: Evidence from the Russian Empire (2015)
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