Population Dynamics, Malthusian Crises and Boserupian Innovation in Pre-Industrial Societies: The Case Study of Northern Italy (ca. 1450-1800) in the Light of Lee’s "Dynamic Synthesis"

Guido Alfani

Rivista di Politica Economica, 2011, issue 2, 23-56

Abstract: This article makes use of Lee’s ‘dynamic synthesis’, which aims to combine the views of Malthus and Boserup, to provide a new interpretation of population dynamics in Northern Italy from about 1450 to 1800. The article analyzes Lee’s theory and suggests that, even if it is difficult to test, it is useful both from the point of view of population theory and from that of interpretation of historical cases. Applying it to the Italian case, the article provides a new interpretation of the path that finally led the Italian population to escape long-term limits to demographic growth.

Keywords: Malthus; Boserup; middle ages; early modern period; malthusian crises; plague; famine; agrarian innovation; demographic crises; population theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J11 N33 N53 N93 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rpo:ripoec:y:2011:i:2:p:23-56

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