An Economic History of Modern France

Reviews / Votes

'This book, by a distinguished French economic historian, covers the years from 1815 until the 1970s. Although necessarily brief and selective, Professor Caron's study will prove a most valuable addition to the growing volume of work on French economic history available in English. The authors deals in a straightforward way with some of the principle themes in French development, rates of growth, agriculture, capital formation, industrialization, and so on, and he analyses expertly and authoritatively the findings of recent scholarship and the various revisions and reinterpretations which such research has produced. Although most of the discussion is at the macro level, Caron does not neglect the existence of the major local variations which make generalizations about French economic development hazardous. However, this is essentially a national, and hence inward-looking study. France's important role in the international economy, her export of capital, and the development of her Empire are virtually ignored. The book is notable for the large number of statistical tables which reflects the strong quantative orientation of much recent French scholarships.' - The Economic Journal