History Matters
Essays on Economic Growth, Technology, and Demographic Change
Published on 31. October 2003
Book
Hardback
528 pages
978-0-8047-4398-3 (ISBN)
Description
Combining theoretical work with careful historical description and analysis of new data sources, History Matters makes a strong case for a more historical approach to economics, both by argument and by example. Seventeen original essays, written by distinguished economists and economic historians, use economic theory and historical cases to explore how and why "history matters."
The chapters, which range in subject matter from the economic theory of irreversible investment to the nineteenth-century decline in U.S. rural fertility to the English poor law reform, are unified by three themes. The first explores the significance, causes, and consequences of path dependence in the evolution of technology and institutions. The second relates to the ways in which economic and political behavior are profoundly shaped and constrained by the cultural and political context inherited from history at a particular point in time. The final theme demonstrates the importance of integrating economic theory into historical research in the gathering and interpretation of data.
The chapters, which range in subject matter from the economic theory of irreversible investment to the nineteenth-century decline in U.S. rural fertility to the English poor law reform, are unified by three themes. The first explores the significance, causes, and consequences of path dependence in the evolution of technology and institutions. The second relates to the ways in which economic and political behavior are profoundly shaped and constrained by the cultural and political context inherited from history at a particular point in time. The final theme demonstrates the importance of integrating economic theory into historical research in the gathering and interpretation of data.
Reviews / Votes
"...a book which should be read by every economic historian with an interest in long-run institutional change and economic growth."-EH.NetMore details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Palo Alto
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Cloth
Illustrations
29 tables, 28 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
866 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8047-4398-3 (9780804743983)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
William A. Sundstrom is Professor of Economics at Santa Clara University. Timothy W. Guinnane is Professor of Economics at Yale University. Warren C. Whatley is Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan.
Content
Table of Contents for History Matters Editors' Introduction, by Timothy W. Guinnane, William A. Sundstrom, and Warren Whatley Part I.A Why History Matters:A Path Dependence and Economic Thought Chapter 1.A Path Dependence and Competitive Equilibrium, by Kenneth J. Arrow Chapter 2.A Path Dependence and Reswitching in a Model of Multi-Technology Adoption, by Paul Stoneman Chapter 3.A Path Dependence, Network Form, and Technological Change, by Douglas J. Puffert Chapter 4.A The Tension between Strong History and Strong Economics, by Melvin W. Reder Part II. Path Dependence in Practice Chapter 5.A Financial History and the Long Reach of the Second Thirty-Years' War, by Charles W. Calomiris Chapter 6.A Path Dependence in Action:A The Adoption and Persistence of the Korean Model of Economic Development, by Phillip Wonhyuk Lim Chapter 7. Continuing Confusion: Entry Prices in Telecommunications, by Peter Temin Chapter 8.A After the War Boom:A Reconversion on the Pacific Coast, 1943-1949, by Paul W. Rhode Chapter 9.A Standardization, Diversity, and Learning in China's Nuclear Power Program, by Geoffrey Rothwell Part III.A Context Matters:A The Influence of Culture, Geography, and Political Institutions on Economies and Policies Chapter 10.A Incentives, Information, and Welfare:A England's New Poor Law and the Workhouse Test, by Timothy Besley, Stephen Coate, and Timothy W. Guinnane Chapter 11.A Family Matters:A The Life-Cycle Transition and the Antebellum American Fertility Decline, by Susan B. Carter, Roger L. Ransom, and Richard Sutch Chapter 12.A Building "Universal Service" in the Early Bell System:A The Coevolution of Regional Urban Systems and Long-Distance Telephone Networks, by David F. Weiman Chapter 13.A International Competition for Technology Investments:A Does National Ownership Matter?, by Trond E. Olsen Part IV.A Evidence Matters:A Measuring Historical Economic Growth and Demographic Change Chapter 14.A Conjectural Estimates of Economic Growth in the Lower South, 1720 to 1800, by Peter C. Mancall, Joshua L. Rosenbloom, and Thomas Weiss Chapter 15.A The Value-Added Approach to the Measurement of Economic Growth, by Mark Thomas and Charles Feinstein Chapter 16.A A User's Guide to the Joys and Pitfulls of Cohort Parity Analysis, by Warren C. Sanderson Chapter 17.A Stochastic Dynamic Optimization Models with Random Effects in Parameters:A An Application to the Age at Marriage and Life-Cycle Fertility Control in France Under the Old Regime, by Thomas A. Mroz and David R. Weir A A A A A A A A A A A