This paper exploits microdata from parish registers in a rural Tuscan village to trace the relationship between experienced and expected child mortality on household fertility strategies. It turns out that spacing of births and hence completed fertility are not only linked to economic risks and...

This paper traces the evolution of the international market for wheat from an emerging market structure after the repeal of the Corn Laws to a mature market characterized by efficient arbitrage after the introduction of the transatlantic telegraph and the growth of trade. Efficiency is...

The lack of appropriate production data has hitherto hampered any attempt in estimating changes in labour productivity in pre-industrial economies. The method applied here estimates labour productivity by making inferences from available information on changes in the occupational structure,...

Over the 400 years covered by this study European grain markets became increasingly integrated as measured by the speed of adjustment back to equilibrium after a shock. Market integration smoothened local supply shocks and therefore generated price stability which can be seen as having a...

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.