Understanding Long-run Economic Growth: Geography, Institutions, And The Knowledge Economy (national Bureau Of Economic Research Conference Report)

The conditions for sustainable growth and development are among the most debated topics in economics, and the consensus is that institutions matter greatly in explaining why some economies are more successful than others over time. Probing the long-term effects of early colonial differences on immigration policy, land distribution, and financial development in a variety of settings, Understanding Long-Run Economic Growth explores the relationship between economic conditions, growth, and inequality, with a focus on how the monopolization of resources by the political elite limits incentives for ordinary people to invest in human capital or technological discovery. Among the topics discussed are the development of credit markets in France, the evolution of transportation companies in the United Kingdom and the United States, and the organization of innovation in the United States. The Conditions For Sustainable Growth And Development Are Among The Most Debated Topics In Economics, And Most Agree That Institutions Matter Greatly In Explaining Why Some Economies Are More Successful Than Othes Over Time. Probing The Long-term Effects Of Early Colonial Differences On Immigration Policy, Land Distribution, And Financial Development In A Variety Of Settings, Understanidng Long-run Economic Growth Explores The Relationship Between Economic Conditions, Growth, And Inequality, With A Focus On How The Monopolization Of Resources By The Political Elite Limits Incentives For Ordinary Peole To Invest In Human Capital Or Technological Discovery. Among The Topics Discussed Are The Development Of Credit Markets In France, The Evolution Of Transportation Companies And Patent Tendencies In The United Kingdom And The United States, And The Organization Of Innovation In The United States--book Jacket. Once Upon A Time In The Americas: Land And Immigration Policies In The New World / Stanley L. Engerman And Kenneth L. Sokoloff -- The Myth Of The Frontier / Camilo García-jimeno And James A. Robinson -- Differential Paths Of Financial Development: Evidence From New World Economics / Stephen Haber -- Political Centralization And Urban Primacy: Evidence From National And Provincial Capitals In The Americas / Sebastian Galiani And Sukkoo Kim -- History, Geography, And The Markets For Mortgage Loans In Nineteenth-century France / Philip T. Hoffman, Gilles Postel-vinay, And Jean-laurent Rosenthal -- Two Roads To The Transportation Revolution: Early Corporations In The United Kingdom And The United States / Dan Bogart And John Majewski -- Premium Inventions: Patents And Prizes As Incentive Mechanisms In Britain And The United States, 1750-1930 / B. Zorina Khan -- The Reorganization Of Inventive Activity In The United States During The Early Twentieth Century / Naomi R. Lamoreaux, Kenneth L. Sokoloff, And Dhanoos Sutthiphisal -- Mass Secondary Schooling And The State: The Role Of State Compulsion In The High School Movement / Claudia Goldin And Lawrence F. Katz -- The Impact Of The Asian Miracle On The Theory Of Economic Growth / Robert W. Fogel -- Ken Sokoloff And The Economic History Of Technology: An Appreciation / Joel Mokyr -- Kenneth Sokoloff On Inequality In The Americas / Peter H. Lindert -- Remembering Ken, Our Beloved Friend / Manuel Trajtenberg. Edited By Dora L. Costa And Naomi R. Lamoreaux. This Volume Honors The Memory Of Kenneth L. Sokoloff With Essays By Colleagues, Coauthors, Students, Teachers, Mentors, And Friends On Themse Associated With His Work.--introduction, P. 1. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1. Once Upon a Time in the Americas: Land and Immigration Policies in the New World......Page 24 2. The Myth of the Frontier......Page 60 3. Differential Paths of Financial Development: Evidence from New World Economies......Page 100 4. Political Centralization and Urban Primacy: Evidence from National and Provincial Capitals in the Americas......Page 132 5. History, Geography, and the Markets for Mortgage Loans in Nineteenth- Century France......Page 166 6. Two Roads to the Transportation Revolution: Early Corporations in the United Kingdom and the United States......Page 188 7. Premium Inventions: Patents and Prizes as Incentive Mechanisms in Britain and the United States, 1750–1930......Page 216 8. The Reorganization of Inventive Activity in the United States during the Early Twentieth Century......Page 246 9. Mass Secondary Schooling and the State: The Role of State Compulsion in the High School Movement......Page 286 10. The Impact of the Asian Miracle on the Theory of Economic Growth......Page 322 11. Ken Sokoloff and the Economic History of Technology: An Appreciation......Page 366 12. Kenneth Sokoloff on Inequality in the Americas......Page 374 13. Remembering Ken, Our Beloved Friend......Page 384 Contributors......Page 386 Author Index......Page 388 Subject Index......Page 396 The conditions for sustainable growth and development are among the most debated topics in economics, and the consensus is that institutions matter greatly in explaining why some economies are more successful than others over time. This book explores the relationship between economic conditions, growth, and inequality.