The Transportation Revolution in Industrializing Britain: A Survey

Dan Bogart

No 121306, Working Papers from University of California-Irvine, Department of Economics

Abstract: Between 1700 and 1870 Britain's transport sector improved dramatically. This paper surveys the literature on Britain’s transport revolution and examines its contribution to economic growth during the Industrial Revolution. It reviews the important infrastructural and technological developments, documents the evolution of transport markets, and examines the developmental effects of transport. The most striking finding is that freight charges decreased by 95 percent in real terms from 1700 to 1870 implying an annual TFP of more than 2 percent. The broader conclusion is that transport improvements were major factor in raising the standard of living in Britain and were as significant as other innovations. At the same time, Britain's history shows that many transport improvements were difficult to implement because they required financial innovation and involved taxation and vexing property rights issues.

Keywords: Transport Revolution; Industrial Revolution; Infrastructure; Railways, Canals; Turnpike; Shipping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N43 N73 R4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 30 pages
Date: 2013-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-tre
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:irv:wpaper:121306

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