The evolution of wages in early modern Normandy (1600–1850)

Cédric Chambru and Paul Maneuvrier-Hervieu

No 398, ECON - Working Papers from Department of Economics - University of Zurich

Abstract: This paper presents new estimations of wages for Normandy between 1600 and 1850. We used a vast array of primary and secondary sources to assemble two new databases on wages and commodity prices to establish a new regional consumer price index (CPI) and twelve regional wage series. We posit that the sluggish demographic growth during the 18th century, and the resulting labour shortage, led to a convergence of wages across unskilled occupations and a relative catch-up with urban skilled construction labourers in the years preceding the French Revolution. We also provide tentative evidence suggesting that labourers in stable employment could have earned as much as their English counterparts during this period.

Keywords: Prices; wages; casual employment; stable employment; Normandy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I31 J3 J4 N33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-lma
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Journal Article: The evolution of wages in early modern Normandy (1600–1850) (2023)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zur:econwp:398

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