Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Brock Smith
Author-Name-First: Brock
Author-Name-Last: Smith
Author-Name: Gregory Clark
Author-Name-First: Gregory
Author-Name-Last: Clark
Author-Name: Joe Cummins
Author-Name-First: Joe
Author-Name-Last: Cummins
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of California Davis
Title: The Surprising Wealth of Pre-industrial England
Abstract: Occupations listed in wills reveal that as early as 1560 effectively only 60% of the English engaged in farming.  Even by 1817, well into the Industrial Revolution, the equivalent primary share, once we count in food and raw material imports, was still 52%.  By implication, incomes in pre-industrial England were close to those of 1800.  Urbanization rates are not a good guide to pre-industrial income levels.  Many rural workers were engaged in manufacturing, services and trade.  The occupation shares also imply pre-industrial England was rich enough in 1560 to rank above the bottom fifth of countries in 2007.
Length: 36
File-URL: https://repec.dss.ucdavis.edu/files/NzC9uBoM8qPsGswLkHcGYLJM/10-14.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
Number: 139
Classification-JEL: N13, O40, O52
KeyWords: Growth, England, Pre-industrial
Creation-Date: 20100706
Handle: RePEc:cda:wpaper:139