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Transfer patterns of British technology to the Continent: The case of the iron industry

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  • FREMDLING, RAINER

Abstract

It took the British iron industry a hundred years to transform from a small producer at high cost in the early eighteenth century, to become the leading supplier of iron products for the world market by switching from charcoal fuel to coal fuel techniques. In a long-drawn transition, the coal-using techniques were transferred to Belgium, France and Germany, in part indirectly with British iron exports embodying the new technology. Behind protective walls in Belgium and France, new ironworks imitated the British model. Traditional ironworks succeeded in integrating only parts of the new technology (i.e. puddling) and increased their productivity by applying modern fuel-saving strategies. Thus old and new coexisted for a long time. The demand for low quality railway iron made most of the British-type ironworks on the continent profitable. From 1860 on, coal iron was produced in ever better qualities which left only niches for the high quality charcoal iron.

Suggested Citation

  • Fremdling, Rainer, 2000. "Transfer patterns of British technology to the Continent: The case of the iron industry," European Review of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(2), pages 195-222, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:ereveh:v:4:y:2000:i:02:p:195-222_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Moe, Espen, 2010. "Energy, industry and politics: Energy, vested interests, and long-term economic growth and development," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 1730-1740.
    2. Robert C. Allen, 2007. "Economics, science, and the British industrial revolution," Working Papers 7004, Economic History Society.
    3. C. Knick Harley, 2013. "British and European Industrialization," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _111, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    4. repec:dgr:rugggd:200255 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. C Knick Harley, 2013. "British and European Industrialization," Oxford University Economic and Social History Series _111, Economics Group, Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
    6. Broadberry, Stephen & Ghosal, Sayantan & Proto, Eugenio, 2011. "Is Anonymity the Missing Link Between Commercial and Industrial Revolution?," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 974, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    7. Cormac Ó Gráda, 2019. "Economic History: «An Isthmus Joining Two Great Continents»?," Rivista di storia economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 81-120.
    8. repec:dgr:rugggd:gd-101 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Broadberry Stephen & Fremdling Rainer & Solar Peter M., 2008. "European Industry 1700-1870," Jahrbuch für Wirtschaftsgeschichte / Economic History Yearbook, De Gruyter, vol. 49(2), pages 141-172, December.
    10. Broadberry, Stephen & Ghosal, Sayantan & Proto, Eugenio, 2017. "Anonymity, efficiency wages and technological progress," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 379-394.
    11. Broadberry, Stephen & Ghosal, Sayantan & Proto, Eugenio, 2008. "Commercialisation, Factor Prices And Technological Progress In The Transition To Modern Economic Growth," Economic Research Papers 269850, University of Warwick - Department of Economics.
    12. McCloskey, Deirdre Nansen, 2009. "Domestic Reshufflings, Such as Transport and Coal, Do Not Explain the Modern World," MPRA Paper 18925, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Fremdling, Rainer, 2002. "Foreign trade-transfer-adaptation: the British iron making technology on the continent (Belgium and France)," GGDC Research Memorandum 200255, Groningen Growth and Development Centre, University of Groningen.

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