New answers to old questions: explaining the slow adoption of ring spinning in Lancashire, 1880-1913

Tim Leunig

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: This paper re-examines theories previously advanced to explain Lancashire’s slow adoption of ring spinning. New cost estimates show that although additional transport costs and technical complementarities between certain types of machine reduced ring adoption rates, these supply side constraints were not dominant. Instead what mattered most were demand side factors. Lancashire produced far more fine yarns than other countries and that yarn was better spun on mules. Furthermore, Lancashire had a sizeable export yarn trade, a market again more suited to mule spinning. Low ring adoption rates were a positive response to demand patterns dominated by high quality goods.

JEL-codes: J01 N0 R14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001-06
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

Published in Journal of Economic History, June, 2001, 61(2), pp. 439 -466. ISSN: 0022-0507

Downloads: (external link)
http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/493/ Open access version. (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: NEW ANSWERS TO OLD QUESTIONS: EXPLAINING THE SLOW ADOPTION OF RING SPINNING IN LANCASHIRE, 1880–l913 (2001)
Working Paper: New answers to old questions: explaining the slow adoption of ring spinning in Lancashire, 1880-1913 (2000)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ehl:lserod:493

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library LSE Library Portugal Street London, WC2A 2HD, U.K.. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by LSERO Manager ().