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Rails of Progress? Exploring the nexus between railroad access and innovation in Italy (19th-20th centuries)

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  • Martinez, Marco
  • Nuvolari, Alessandro
  • Vasta, Michelangelo

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence on the nexus between railroads and inventive activities in Italy in the period 1861–1936. We develop two new georeferenced datasets on railroad stations and patents covering about 8,000 municipalities. By adopting a staggered difference in differences identification strategy, we show that the impact of railroad construction on innovation is noticeable for the first wave of construction of the period of the Destra storica (1861–1878), when the network was expanded following a state building strategy. However, these effects became noticeable only after two decades and concern mostly independent inventors and low-quality patents. Finally, we show that railroad access fostered innovation, particularly in locations with more advanced pre-existing capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Martinez, Marco & Nuvolari, Alessandro & Vasta, Michelangelo, 2025. "Rails of Progress? Exploring the nexus between railroad access and innovation in Italy (19th-20th centuries)," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:98:y:2025:i:c:s0014498325000658
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2025.101718
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • N73 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation

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