The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas

Nathan Nunn and Nancy Qian

Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2010, vol. 24, issue 2, 163-88

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the long-term impacts of the Columbian Exchange -- that is, the exchange of diseases, ideas, food crops, technologies, populations, and cultures between the New World and the Old World after Christopher Columbus' voyage to the Americas in 1492. We focus on the aspects of the exchange that have been most neglected by economic studies; namely the transfer of diseases, food crops, and knowledge between the two Worlds. We pay particular attention to the effects of the exchange on the Old World.

JEL-codes: N33 N36 N43 N46 N53 N56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.24.2.163
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (37)

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Working Paper: The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas (2010)
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