Book production and the onset of modern economic growth

Joerg Baten and Jan Luiten van Zanden

Economics Working Papers from Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Abstract: Endogenous growth theory suggests that human capital formation plays a significant role for the ‘wealth and poverty of nations.’ In contrast to previous studies which denied the role of human capital as a crucial determinant of for really long-term growth, we confirm its importance. Indicators of human capital like literacy rates are lacking for the period of 1450-1913; hence, we use per capita book production as a proxy for advanced literacy skills. This study explains how, and to what extent, growth disparities are a function of human capital formation.

Keywords: Book Production; Economic Growth; Human Capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N10 O14 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-his, nep-hpe and nep-hrm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Journal Article: Book production and the onset of modern economic growth (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:upf:upfgen:1030

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