Coal and the European Industrial Revolution

Alan Fernihough and Kevin Hjortshøj
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Kevin Hjortshøj O'Rourke

The Economic Journal, 2021, vol. 131, issue 635, 1135-1149

Abstract: To what extent did growth during the Industrial Revolution depend on coal? We answer the question using a panel of European city sizes between 1300 and 1900. Prior to 1750, there was no relationship between proximity to coalfields and growth; after 1750 cities closer to coalfields grew substantially faster than those further away. We instrument for coal proximity using proximity to Carboniferous-era rock strata.

Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Coal and the European Industrial Revolution (2014)
Working Paper: Coal and the European Industrial Revolution (2014)
Working Paper: Coal and the European Industrial Revolution (2014)
Working Paper: Coal and the European Industrial Revolution (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:econjl:v:131:y:2021:i:635:p:1135-1149.

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