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The rise and fall of Spain (1270-1850)

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  • Carlos Álvarez Nogal

    ()

  • Leandro Prados de la Escosura

    ()

Abstract

Two distinctive regimes are distinguished in Spain over half-a-millennium. A first one (1270s-1590s) corresponds to a high land-labour ratio frontier economy, pastoral, trade-oriented, and led by towns. Wages and food consumption were relatively high. Sustained per capita growth occurred from the Reconquest’s end (1264) to the Black Death (1340s) and resumed from the 1390s only broken by late- 15th century turmoil. A second regime (1600s-1810s) corresponds to a more agricultural and densely populated low-wage economy which grew along a lower path. Contrary to preindustrial Western Europe, Spain achieved her highest living standards in the 1340s, not by mid-15th century. Although its population toll was lower, the Plague had a more damaging impact on Spain and, far from releasing non-existent demographic pressure, destroyed the equilibrium between scarce population and abundant resources. Pre-1350 per capita income was reached by the late 16th century but only overcome after 1820.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by Universidad Carlos III, Departamento de Historia Económica e Instituciones in its series Working Papers in Economic History with number wp11-02.

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Date of creation: Apr 2011
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Handle: RePEc:cte:whrepe:wp11-02

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Keywords: Preindustrial Spain; Frontier economy; Reconquest; Black Death; Rise; Decline; Western Europe;

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References

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  1. de la Escosura, Leandro Prados, 2007. "Growth and structural change in Spain, 1850–2000: a european perspective," Revista de Historia Económica, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(01), pages 147-181, January.
  2. Prados de la Escosura, Leandro, . "International comparisons of real product, 1820-1990 : an alternative data set," Open Access publications from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid info:hdl:10016/4725, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
  3. van Zanden, Jan L., 1999. "Wages and the standard of living in Europe, 1500 1800," European Review of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 3(02), pages 175-197, August.
  4. de la Escosura, Leandro Prados & Rosés, Joan R., 2007. "The Sources of Long-run Growth in Spain 1850-2000," CEPR Discussion Papers 6189, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  5. Prados de la Escosura, Leandro, . "El comercio hispano-británico en los siglos XVIII y XIX. I. Reconstrucción," Open Access publications from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid info:hdl:10016/1617, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
  6. Llopis, Enrique & Jerez, Miguel & Álvaro, Adoración & Fernández, Eva, 2000. "Índices de precios de la zona noroccidental de Castilla y León, 1518–1650," Revista de Historia Económica, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(03), pages 665-684, December.
  7. Jan Luiten van Zanden & Bas van Leeuwen, 2011. "The Character of growth before 'modern economics growth'? The GDP of Holland between 1347 and 1807," Working Papers 0004, Utrecht University, Centre for Global Economic History.
  8. Prados de la Escosura Leandro, 2003. "El progreso económico de España (1850-2000)," Books, Fundacion BBVA / BBVA Foundation, edition 1, number 201136, July.
  9. Prados de la Escosura, Leandro & Álvarez Nogal, Carlos, . "The decline of Spain (1500–1850): conjectural estimates," Open Access publications from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid info:hdl:10016/3932, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
  10. Jan Luiten van Zanden, 2005. "Una estimación del crecimiento económico en la Edad Moderna," Investigaciones de Historia Económica (IHE) Journal of the Spanish Economic History Association, Asociación Española de Historia Económica, vol. 2, pages 9-38.
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Cited by:
  1. Carlos Santiago-Caballero, 2012. "Explaining wheat yields in eighteenth-century Spain," Working Papers in Economic History wp12-05, Universidad Carlos III, Departamento de Historia Económica e Instituciones.
  2. Broadberry, Stephen, 2011. "Recent developments in the theory of very long run growth: A historical appraisal," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 55, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
  3. Stephen Broadberry & Bruce Campbell & Alexander Klein & Mark Overton & Bas van Leeuwen, 2012. "British Economic Growth, 1270-1870: an output-based approach," Studies in Economics 1203, Department of Economics, University of Kent.
  4. Broadberry,Stephen; Ghosal, Sayantan; Proto, Eugenio, 2011. "Is Anonymity the Missing Link Between Commercial and Industrial Revolution?," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 53, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
  5. Broadberry, Stephen; Campbell, Bruce; Klein, Alexander; Overton, Mark; Van Leeuwen, Bas., 2010. "English Economic Growth: 1270 - 1870," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 35, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
  6. Carlos Santiago-Caballero, 2012. "Provincial grain yields in Spain, 1750-2009," Working Papers in Economic History wp12-04, Universidad Carlos III, Departamento de Historia Económica e Instituciones.

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