We analyze the role of the Scientific Revolution in the takeoff to sustained long-run economic development. Basic scientific knowledge is a necessary input in the production of applied knowledge, which, in turn, fuels productivity growth and leads to rising incomes. Subsequently, rising incomes instigate a fertility transition and foster education investments. Together, the increasing stocks of basic scientific knowledge and human capital, and the concomitant reduction in fertility enable economic development. In regions where scientific inquiry is severely constrained—for example, due to religious reasons or due to oppressive rulers—the takeoff is delayed or may not occur at all. This shows the importance of investing in basic scientific inquiry when trying to achieve long-run economic prosperity. Our framework could contribute to the understanding of why sustained economic development emerged first in Europe and not in technologically more advanced China. Click here for the whole paper.
Women in Economic History
Please check out the website of our initiative: https://www.women-in-economic-history.com/
European Historical Economics Society Conference in Stuttgart in 2025
I am thrilled to announce that I was elected to become the new (and first female) president of the European Historical Economics Society in 2023. Thus, I will host the conference in 2025 at the University of Hohenheim and I am very much looking forward to it!
We moved
Please note that we moved from Wollgrasweg 49 to the following address:
University of Hohenheim, Department of Economics, Chair of Economic and Social History with Agricultural History (520J), Schloss Osthof / West, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
New DFG Research project starting in 2022
I am happy to announce that the DFG funds a new research project: “Income Inequality and social mobility- 100 years of Germany industrial history- the Maschinenfabrik Esslingen. ”
Network for women in economic history
In June this year, the female researchers of the GSWG founded a network for women in economic history. We aim at improving the overall representation of women in the field and their working conditions. Please feel free to contact me if you want to join!