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Historical industrialisation, path dependence and contemporary culture: the lasting imprint of economic heritage on local communities
[Technology and the labour market]

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Huggins
  • Michael Stuetzer
  • Martin Obschonka
  • Piers Thompson

Abstract

Culture matters for regional economic development and is one source of cognitive lock-in that influences path creation and dependency. However, little is known about the sources of regional variation in culture. This study explores the long-term imprinting effect of the Industrial Revolution on cultural practices across local communities in Great Britain. Historical data from 1891 on the employment in large-scale industries (e.g. textiles and steel) is used to estimate causal effects of industrialisation on five cultural dimensions. It is found that historical industrialisation is still reflected in contemporary local cultures marked by lower engagement with education and employment, less adherence to social rules but stronger collective action and social cohesion. It is concluded that one reason for the relatively poor effect of the public policies on local and regional economic development is that historical industrialisation has left a lasting legacy on contemporary culture in many places that impairs institutional efforts to foster change.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Huggins & Michael Stuetzer & Martin Obschonka & Piers Thompson, 2021. "Historical industrialisation, path dependence and contemporary culture: the lasting imprint of economic heritage on local communities [Technology and the labour market]," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 21(6), pages 841-867.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jecgeo:v:21:y:2021:i:6:p:841-867.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeg/lbab010
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    2. Daria Denti & Alessandro Crociata & Alessandra Faggian, 2023. "Knocking on Hell’s door: dismantling hate with cultural consumption," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 47(2), pages 303-349, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cultural evolution; community culture; industry structure; industrialisation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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