Around the European periphery 1870-1913: globalization, schooling and growth

Kevin O'Rourke and Jeffrey G. Williamson

No 199517, Working Papers from School of Economics, University College Dublin

Abstract: On average, the poor European periphery converged on the rich industrial core in the four or five decades prior to the First World War. Some, like the three Scandinavian economies, used industrialization to achieve a spectacular convergence on the leaders, especially in real wages and living standards. Some, like Ireland, seemed to do it without industrialization. Some, like Italy, underwent a less spectacular catch-up, and it was limited to the industrializing North. Some, like Iberia, actually fell back. What accounts for this variety? What role did trade and tariff policy play? What about emigration and capital flows? What about schooling? We offer a tentative assessment of these contending explanations and conclude that globalization was by far the dominant force accounting for convergence (and divergence) around the periphery. Some exploited it well, and some badly.

Keywords: International economic integration--History; Convergence (Economics)--Europe; Europe--Economic conditions--Regional disparities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1995-12
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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http://hdl.handle.net/10197/1783 First version, 1995 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Around the European periphery 1870–1913: Globalization, schooling and growth (1997)
Working Paper: Around the European Periphery 1870-1913: Globalization, Schooling and Growth (1996)
Working Paper: Around the European Periphery 1870-1913: Globalization, Schooling and Growth (1995)
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