From Convergence to Divergence: Portuguese Economic Growth, 1527-1850

Nuno Palma and Jaime Reis ()
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Jaime Reis: Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa

No 137, Working Papers from European Historical Economics Society (EHES)

Abstract: We construct the first time-series for Portugal’s per capita GDP for 1527-1850, drawing on a new database. Starting in the early 1630s there was a highly persistent upward trend which accelerated after 1710 and peaked 40 years later. At that point, per capita income was high by European standards, though behind the most advanced Western European economies. But as the second half of the eighteenth century unfolded, a phase of economic decline was initiated. This continued into the nineteenth century, and by 1850 per capita incomes were not different from what they had been in the early 1530s.

Keywords: Early Modern Portugal; Historical National Accounts; Standards of Living Debate; the Little Divergence; Malthusian Model. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N13 O52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2018-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gro and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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https://www.ehes.org/wp/EHES_137.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: From Convergence to Divergence: Portuguese Economic Growth, 1527–1850 (2019)
Working Paper: From Convergence to Divergence: Portuguese Economic Growth, 1527-1850 (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hes:wpaper:0137

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