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Protestant Refugees, the Calvinist Ethic and the Industrial Revolution

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  • Bernard C. Beaudreau

    (Université Laval)

Abstract

In this paper, it is argued that the industrial revolution in eighteenth century Great Britain had its origins in the arrival of 100,000–140,000 Protestant refugees in England and Ireland in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Specifically, it is argued that their arrival prompted both Schmooklerian pull and push factors. The pull factor was the thousands of refugee merchants and ship owners/captains to England and Ireland resulting in the creation of the Protestant International (1550-1750). This increased the demand for tradables which in turn spurred invention and innovation among refugees (push factor) and their descendants as well as in the local population. These factors were self-reinforcing, leading in time to the industrial revolution. The result is a novel account of the origins of the industrial revolution, one that is consistent with competing explanations.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard C. Beaudreau, 2021. "Protestant Refugees, the Calvinist Ethic and the Industrial Revolution," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 49(3), pages 273-291, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:49:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s11293-021-09725-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-021-09725-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bernard C. Beaudreau, 2023. "A Pull–Push Theory of Industrial Revolutions," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 29(4), pages 303-317, November.

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