Abstract

This talk presents the findings of my research over the past decade on the interaction between demography and economics before and during England’s Industrial Revolution. Reflecting on the findings, the talk entertains the idea that rising male and female incomes in the run up to the Industrial Revolution induced women to reduce their child-bearing years and parents to investment more in their offspring’s education, two core steps on our long road to riches.

Jacob is a professor of economics at the University of Southern Denmark, a research fellow at the CEPR in London, a research associate of the CAGE in Warwick.

Jacob's personal website

Reference

Jacob Weisdorf (University of Southern Denmark), “Rising wages, family-planning, and economic development: evidence from the population history of England, 1541-1871”, IAST General Seminar, Toulouse: IAST, October 5, 2018, 11:30–12:30, room MF 323.