Coal and the European Industrial Revolution

Alan Fernihough, Kevin Hjortshøj O'Rourke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

To what extent did growth during the Industrial Revolution depend on coal? We answer the question using a panel of European city sizes between 1300 and 1900. Prior to 1750, there was no relationship between proximity to coalfields and growth; after 1750 cities closer to coalfields grew substantially faster than those further away. We instrument for coal proximity using proximity to Carboniferous-era rock strata.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1135-1149
Number of pages15
JournalEconomic Journal
Volume131
Issue number635
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Economics and Econometrics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Coal and the European Industrial Revolution'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this