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Optimism or pessimism? A composite view on English living standards during the Industrial Revolution

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  • Daniel Gallardo-Albarrán
  • Herman de Jong

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of English living standards during the early phase of industrialization (1760–1850). We take a multi-dimensional perspective and apply an indicator that combines four key dimensions of well-being: material living standards, health, working time, and inequality. Contrary to other composite measures of well-being, our welfare metric draws on standard economic theory to aggregate its underlying components. We find decreasing welfare during the late eighteenth century due to rising working time and income inequality, despite improving health. After 1800, workers’ conditions improved when real wages started to rise, although the cumulative effect was not substantial by 1850.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Gallardo-Albarrán & Herman de Jong, 2021. "Optimism or pessimism? A composite view on English living standards during the Industrial Revolution," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 25(1), pages 1-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:ereveh:v:25:y:2021:i:1:p:1-19.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ereh/heaa002
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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni Federico & Alessandro Nuvolari & Michelangelo Vasta, 2023. "Inequality in Pre‐Industrial Europe (1260–1850): New Evidence From the Labor Share," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 69(2), pages 347-375, June.
    2. Benjamin Schneider & Hillary Vipond, 2023. "The Past and Future of Work: How History Can Inform the Age of Automation," CESifo Working Paper Series 10766, CESifo.
    3. Daniel Gallardo-Albarrán, 2023. "Capital, Productivity, and Human Welfare since 1870," Working Papers 0237, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).

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