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Convergence in the pre-1914 Atlantic economy: what really happened to wages in the Irish economy?

Author

Listed:
  • Jason Begley

    (Coventry University)

  • Frank Geary

    (Belfast)

  • Tom Stark

    (Portstewart)

Abstract

"After the Famine Irish wages caught up on those of Great Britain. Catch up is ascribed to globalised labour markets and the effects of emigration. However current estimates of the level of Irish wages and their rate of growth are based on a small sample of the male workforce. This paper presents estimates of the average wage for all wage earners and the Irish wage bill. This enables an estimate of an (implied) British average wage and wage bill. The new estimates show that while there was significant wage catch up in a few occupations, in general catch up was less rapid than recent studies have suggested. The origins of this catch up are also examined. Consistent with earlier studies which emphasise modernisation of the post-Famine economy the evidence of this paper is consistent with the effects of traditional convergence forces such as TFP growth, capital accumulation and structural change operating at least alongside the effects of emigration."

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Begley & Frank Geary & Tom Stark, 2015. "Convergence in the pre-1914 Atlantic economy: what really happened to wages in the Irish economy?," Working Papers 15014, Economic History Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehs:wpaper:15014
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    File URL: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/Global/05%20Research%20section%20assets/Research/SURGE/Working%20papers/SURGE%20WPS%20Working%20Paper%2010%20ver%207.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Average wages; wage bill; catch up; emigration; labour demand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N00 - Economic History - - General - - - General

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