Malthusian dynamics in a diverging Europe: Northern Italy 1650-1881

Alan Fernihough

No 201037, Working Papers from School of Economics, University College Dublin

Abstract: Recent empirical research has questioned the validity of using Malthusian theory in pre-industrial England. Using real wage and vital rate data for the years 1650-1881, I provide empirical estimates for a different region - Northern Italy. The empirical methodology is theoretically underpinned by a simple Malthusian model, in which population, real wages and vital rates are determined endogenously. My findings strongly support the existence of a `Malthusian' economy where population growth depressed living standards, which in turn influenced vital rates. In addition, I find no evidence of Boserupian effects as increases in population failed to spur sustained technological growth.

Keywords: Economic history; Demographic economics; Malthusianism; Italy, Northern--Economic conditions; Italy, Northern--Population; Economic history (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 N33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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http://hdl.handle.net/10197/2671 First version, 2010 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Malthusian Dynamics in a Diverging Europe: Northern Italy, 1650–1881 (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucn:wpaper:201037

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