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Jacob Weisdorf - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Københavns Universitet A Malthusian Model for all Seasons A Malthusian Model for all Seasons: A Theoretical Approach to Labour Input and Labour Surplus in Traditional Agriculture A Malthusian Model for all Seasons: A Theoretical Approach to Labour Input a
    2020
    Co-Authors: Paul Sharp, Jacob Weisdorf, Discussion Papers, Steven Broadberry
    Abstract:

    Abstract: It has become popular to argue (e.g. Clark 2007) that all societies were Malthusian until about 1800. At the same time, the phenomenon of surplus labour is well-documented for historical (as well as modern) pre-industrial societies. This study discusses the paradox of surplus labour in a Malthusian economy. Inspired by the work of We introduce the concept of seasonality into a stylized Malthusian Model, and endogenize the extent of agricultural labour input, which is then used to calculate labour surplus and the rate of labour productivity. We observe the effects of season-specific technological progress, and find that technological progress in the low-season increases labour surplus and labour productivity whilst, perhaps surprisingly, technological progress in the high-season, by relaxing the high-season bottleneck, leads to work intensification and a drop in labour surplus and labour productivity. JEL classification codes: J22, N13, O10 Keywords: Boserup, Labour Productivity, Labour Surplus, Land Productivity, Malthus, Seasonality * We gratefully acknowledge the feedback from seminar and conference participants at the University of Copenhagen, the European University Institute, the Seventh Conference of the European Economic History Society, and the 'Why (not) Europe' Summer School at University of Tartu. We are especially thankful to Steven Broadberry, Giovanni Federico, Joel Mokyr and Kevin O'Rourke for comments, suggestions and literacy recommendations. Contact: jacob.weisdorf@econ.ku.dk

  • A Service of zbw The determinants of subsistence income in a Malthusian world The Determinants of Subsistence Income in a Malthusian World
    2020
    Co-Authors: Holger Strulik, Jacob Weisdorf
    Abstract:

    Abstract. This study constructs a simple, two-sector Malthusian Model with agriculture and industry, and use it to identify the determinants of subsistence income. We make standard assumptions about preferences and production technology, but by contrast to existing studies we assume that children and other consumption goods are gross substitutes. Consistent with the traditional Malthusian Model, we find that productivity growth in agriculture has no effect on subsistence income. More importantly, we also find that subsistence income increases, not just with the death rate as has recently been demonstrated in the literature, but also with productivity in manufacturing

  • a Malthusian Model for all seasons a theoretical approach to labour input and labour surplus in traditional agriculture
    Research Papers in Economics, 2007
    Co-Authors: Paul Sharp, Jacob Weisdorf
    Abstract:

    It has become popular to argue (e.g. Clark 2007) that all societies were Malthusian until about 1800. At the same time, the phenomenon of surplus labour is well-documented for historical (as well as modern) pre-industrial societies. This study discusses the paradox of surplus labour in a Malthusian economy. Inspired by the work of Boserup (1965) and others, and in contrast to the Lewis (1954) approach, we suggest that the phenomenon of surplus labour is best understood through an acceptance of the importance of seasonality in agriculture. Boserup observed that the harvest season was invariably associated with labour shortages (the high-season bottleneck on production), although there might be labour surplus during the low season. We introduce the concept of seasonality into a stylized Malthusian Model, and endogenize the extent of agricultural labour input, which is then used to calculate labour surplus and the rate of labour productivity. We observe the effects of season-specific technological progress, and find that technological progress in the low-season increases labour surplus and labour productivity whilst, perhaps surprisingly, technological progress in the high-season, by relaxing the high-season bottleneck, leads to work intensification and a drop in labour surplus and labour productivity.

  • malthus revisited fertility decision making based on quasi linear preferences
    Research Papers in Economics, 2007
    Co-Authors: Jacob Weisdorf
    Abstract:

    Malthus’ (1798) population hypothesis is inconsistent with the demographic transition and the concurrent massive expansion of incomes observed among industrialised countries. This study shows that eliminating the income-effect on the demand for children from the Malthusian Model makes it harmonise well with industrial development.

Hans-joachim Voth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • 2010), The Three Horsemen of Riches: Plague, War and Urbanization in Early Modern Europe, Universitat Pompeu Fabra manuscript
    2016
    Co-Authors: Nico Voigtländer, Hans-joachim Voth
    Abstract:

    How did Europe escape the "Iron Law of Wages? " We construct a simple Malthusian Model with two sectors and multiple steady states, and use it to explain why European per capita incomes and urbanization rates increased during the period 1350-1700. Productivity growth can only explain a small fraction of the rise in output per capita. Population dynamics – changes of the birth and death schedules – were far more important determinants of steady states. We show how a major shock to population can trigger a transition to a new steady state with higher per-capita income. The Black Death was such a shock, raising wages substantially. Because of Engel’s Law, demand for urban products increased, and urban centers grew in size. European cities were unhealthy, and rising urbanization pushed up aggregate death rates. This effect was reinforced by more frequent wars and disease spread by trade. Both reflected higher per capita incomes after the plague. In this way higher wages themselves reduced population pressure. We show in a calibration exercise that our Model can account for the sustained rise in European urbanization as well as permanently higher per capita incomes in 1700, without technological change. Wars contributed importantly to the ’Rise of Europe, ’ even if they had negative short-run effects. We thus trace Europe’s precocious rise to economic riches to interactions of the plague shock with the belligeren

  • the three horsemen of riches plague war and urbanization in early modern europe
    Social Science Research Network, 2012
    Co-Authors: Nico Voigtländer, Hans-joachim Voth
    Abstract:

    How did Europe escape the "Iron Law of Wages?" We construct a simple Malthusian Model with two sectors and multiple steady states, and use it to explain why European per capita incomes and urbanization rates increased during the period 1350-1700. Productivity growth can only explain a small fraction of the rise in output per capita. Population dynamics – changes of the birth and death schedules -- were far more important determinants of steady states. We show how a major shock to population can trigger a transition to a new steady state with higher per-capita income. The Black Death was such a shock, raising wages substantially. Because of Engel’s Law, demand for urban products increased, and urban centers grew in size. European cities were unhealthy, and rising urbanization pushed up aggregate death rates. This effect was reinforced by diseases spread through war, financed by higher tax revenues. In addition, rising trade also spread diseases. In this way higher wages themselves reduced population pressure. We show in a calibration exercise that our Model can account for the sustained rise in European urbanization as well as permanently higher per capita incomes in 1700, without technological change. Wars contributed importantly to the ’Rise of Europe,’ even if they had negative short-run effects. We thus trace Europe’s precocious rise to economic riches to interactions of the plague shock with the belligerent political environment and the nature of cities.

Paul Sharp - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Københavns Universitet A Malthusian Model for all Seasons A Malthusian Model for all Seasons: A Theoretical Approach to Labour Input and Labour Surplus in Traditional Agriculture A Malthusian Model for all Seasons: A Theoretical Approach to Labour Input a
    2020
    Co-Authors: Paul Sharp, Jacob Weisdorf, Discussion Papers, Steven Broadberry
    Abstract:

    Abstract: It has become popular to argue (e.g. Clark 2007) that all societies were Malthusian until about 1800. At the same time, the phenomenon of surplus labour is well-documented for historical (as well as modern) pre-industrial societies. This study discusses the paradox of surplus labour in a Malthusian economy. Inspired by the work of We introduce the concept of seasonality into a stylized Malthusian Model, and endogenize the extent of agricultural labour input, which is then used to calculate labour surplus and the rate of labour productivity. We observe the effects of season-specific technological progress, and find that technological progress in the low-season increases labour surplus and labour productivity whilst, perhaps surprisingly, technological progress in the high-season, by relaxing the high-season bottleneck, leads to work intensification and a drop in labour surplus and labour productivity. JEL classification codes: J22, N13, O10 Keywords: Boserup, Labour Productivity, Labour Surplus, Land Productivity, Malthus, Seasonality * We gratefully acknowledge the feedback from seminar and conference participants at the University of Copenhagen, the European University Institute, the Seventh Conference of the European Economic History Society, and the 'Why (not) Europe' Summer School at University of Tartu. We are especially thankful to Steven Broadberry, Giovanni Federico, Joel Mokyr and Kevin O'Rourke for comments, suggestions and literacy recommendations. Contact: jacob.weisdorf@econ.ku.dk

  • a Malthusian Model for all seasons a theoretical approach to labour input and labour surplus in traditional agriculture
    Research Papers in Economics, 2007
    Co-Authors: Paul Sharp, Jacob Weisdorf
    Abstract:

    It has become popular to argue (e.g. Clark 2007) that all societies were Malthusian until about 1800. At the same time, the phenomenon of surplus labour is well-documented for historical (as well as modern) pre-industrial societies. This study discusses the paradox of surplus labour in a Malthusian economy. Inspired by the work of Boserup (1965) and others, and in contrast to the Lewis (1954) approach, we suggest that the phenomenon of surplus labour is best understood through an acceptance of the importance of seasonality in agriculture. Boserup observed that the harvest season was invariably associated with labour shortages (the high-season bottleneck on production), although there might be labour surplus during the low season. We introduce the concept of seasonality into a stylized Malthusian Model, and endogenize the extent of agricultural labour input, which is then used to calculate labour surplus and the rate of labour productivity. We observe the effects of season-specific technological progress, and find that technological progress in the low-season increases labour surplus and labour productivity whilst, perhaps surprisingly, technological progress in the high-season, by relaxing the high-season bottleneck, leads to work intensification and a drop in labour surplus and labour productivity.

Nico Voigtländer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • 2010), The Three Horsemen of Riches: Plague, War and Urbanization in Early Modern Europe, Universitat Pompeu Fabra manuscript
    2016
    Co-Authors: Nico Voigtländer, Hans-joachim Voth
    Abstract:

    How did Europe escape the "Iron Law of Wages? " We construct a simple Malthusian Model with two sectors and multiple steady states, and use it to explain why European per capita incomes and urbanization rates increased during the period 1350-1700. Productivity growth can only explain a small fraction of the rise in output per capita. Population dynamics – changes of the birth and death schedules – were far more important determinants of steady states. We show how a major shock to population can trigger a transition to a new steady state with higher per-capita income. The Black Death was such a shock, raising wages substantially. Because of Engel’s Law, demand for urban products increased, and urban centers grew in size. European cities were unhealthy, and rising urbanization pushed up aggregate death rates. This effect was reinforced by more frequent wars and disease spread by trade. Both reflected higher per capita incomes after the plague. In this way higher wages themselves reduced population pressure. We show in a calibration exercise that our Model can account for the sustained rise in European urbanization as well as permanently higher per capita incomes in 1700, without technological change. Wars contributed importantly to the ’Rise of Europe, ’ even if they had negative short-run effects. We thus trace Europe’s precocious rise to economic riches to interactions of the plague shock with the belligeren

  • the three horsemen of riches plague war and urbanization in early modern europe
    Social Science Research Network, 2012
    Co-Authors: Nico Voigtländer, Hans-joachim Voth
    Abstract:

    How did Europe escape the "Iron Law of Wages?" We construct a simple Malthusian Model with two sectors and multiple steady states, and use it to explain why European per capita incomes and urbanization rates increased during the period 1350-1700. Productivity growth can only explain a small fraction of the rise in output per capita. Population dynamics – changes of the birth and death schedules -- were far more important determinants of steady states. We show how a major shock to population can trigger a transition to a new steady state with higher per-capita income. The Black Death was such a shock, raising wages substantially. Because of Engel’s Law, demand for urban products increased, and urban centers grew in size. European cities were unhealthy, and rising urbanization pushed up aggregate death rates. This effect was reinforced by diseases spread through war, financed by higher tax revenues. In addition, rising trade also spread diseases. In this way higher wages themselves reduced population pressure. We show in a calibration exercise that our Model can account for the sustained rise in European urbanization as well as permanently higher per capita incomes in 1700, without technological change. Wars contributed importantly to the ’Rise of Europe,’ even if they had negative short-run effects. We thus trace Europe’s precocious rise to economic riches to interactions of the plague shock with the belligerent political environment and the nature of cities.

Steven Broadberry - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Københavns Universitet A Malthusian Model for all Seasons A Malthusian Model for all Seasons: A Theoretical Approach to Labour Input and Labour Surplus in Traditional Agriculture A Malthusian Model for all Seasons: A Theoretical Approach to Labour Input a
    2020
    Co-Authors: Paul Sharp, Jacob Weisdorf, Discussion Papers, Steven Broadberry
    Abstract:

    Abstract: It has become popular to argue (e.g. Clark 2007) that all societies were Malthusian until about 1800. At the same time, the phenomenon of surplus labour is well-documented for historical (as well as modern) pre-industrial societies. This study discusses the paradox of surplus labour in a Malthusian economy. Inspired by the work of We introduce the concept of seasonality into a stylized Malthusian Model, and endogenize the extent of agricultural labour input, which is then used to calculate labour surplus and the rate of labour productivity. We observe the effects of season-specific technological progress, and find that technological progress in the low-season increases labour surplus and labour productivity whilst, perhaps surprisingly, technological progress in the high-season, by relaxing the high-season bottleneck, leads to work intensification and a drop in labour surplus and labour productivity. JEL classification codes: J22, N13, O10 Keywords: Boserup, Labour Productivity, Labour Surplus, Land Productivity, Malthus, Seasonality * We gratefully acknowledge the feedback from seminar and conference participants at the University of Copenhagen, the European University Institute, the Seventh Conference of the European Economic History Society, and the 'Why (not) Europe' Summer School at University of Tartu. We are especially thankful to Steven Broadberry, Giovanni Federico, Joel Mokyr and Kevin O'Rourke for comments, suggestions and literacy recommendations. Contact: jacob.weisdorf@econ.ku.dk