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The Late Medieval Bullion Famine Reconsidered

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  • Sussman, Nathan

Abstract

The bullion famine, manifested in chronic balance-of-payments deficits with the East, is widely cited as the cause of the great depression of the Renaissance. Adapting the monetary approach to the balance-of-payments model to the medieval commodity money setting this article shows that western Europe could not suffer a balance-of-payments deficits and bullion shortage simultaneously. New data show that it is unlikely that France suffered a shortage of silver from 1360 to 1415. Minting volumes diverged between regions according to economic fortunes. Excess silver stocks were likely hoarded rather than exported.

Suggested Citation

  • Sussman, Nathan, 1998. "The Late Medieval Bullion Famine Reconsidered," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 58(1), pages 126-154, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:58:y:1998:i:01:p:126-154_01
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    Cited by:

    1. Volckart, Oliver, 2021. "Trade in coinage, Gresham's Law, and the drive to monetary unification: the Holy Roman Empire, 1519-59," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 109885, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Oliver Volckart, 2007. "Rules, Discretion or Reputation? Monetary Policies and the Efficiency of Financial Markets in Germany, 14th to 16th Centuries," SFB 649 Discussion Papers SFB649DP2007-007, Sonderforschungsbereich 649, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
    3. John H. Munro, 2009. "Coinage and Monetary Policies in Burgundian Flanders during the late-medieval 'Bullion Famines',. 1384 - 1482," Working Papers tecipa-361, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    4. Volckart, Oliver, 2021. "Trade in coinage, Gresham's Law, and the drive to monetary unification: the Holy Roman Empire, 1519-59," Economic History Working Papers 109885, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    5. Yao Chen & Nuno Palma & Felix Ward, 2022. "Goldilocks: American precious metals and the Rise of the West," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-063/VI, Tinbergen Institute, revised 15 Feb 2023.
    6. Volckart, Oliver & Wolf, Nikolaus, 2004. "Estimating medieval market integration: Evidence from exchange rates," Discussion Papers 2004/21, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.

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