A widespread current policy concern is whether the international integration of product markets forces together wages across countries. To help gain an insight into this issue, this paper analyses the case of the US antebellum transportation revolution. Between 1820 and 1860 an extensive...

A formula is developed that enables labour productivity ranking of regions with minimum access to data. Furthermore, a probability approach is chosen in the use of uncertain information. Results indicate a productivity gap in favour of 14th century Italy compared to England.