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Wars, Taxation, and Representation: Evidence from Five Centuries of German History

Author

Listed:
  • Sascha O Becker
  • Andreas Ferrara
  • Eric Melander
  • Luigi Pascali

Abstract

We provide causal evidence for the role of warfare in the development of medieval constitutionalism. Using novel data on the universe of German cities between 1290 and 1710, we show that military conflicts led to city councils that were larger, more likely to be elected by citizens, and more likely to include representatives of craft guilds. Additionally, these conflicts resulted in a substantial increase in local fiscal and spending capacity. We exploit the gender of the firstborn children of local nobles as a source of exogenous variation in conflicts.

Suggested Citation

  • Sascha O Becker & Andreas Ferrara & Eric Melander & Luigi Pascali, 2025. "Wars, Taxation, and Representation: Evidence from Five Centuries of German History," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 23(6), pages 2241-2288.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jeurec:v:23:y:2025:i:6:p:2241-2288.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeea/jvaf019
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    2. Cédric Chambru & Emeric Henry & Benjamin Marx, 2024. "The Dynamic Consequences of State Building: Evidence from the French Revolution," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 114(11), pages 3578-3622, November.
    3. Kainuma, Shuhei, 2024. "Transition to broader-based politics: The role of suffrage extension in early 20th century Japan," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Tommaso Giommoni & Gabriel Loumeau & Marco Tabellini, 2026. "Extractive Taxation and the French Revolution," IRENE Working Papers 26-02, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    5. Sebastian Ottinger & Nico Voigtländer, 2025. "History's Masters The Effect of European Monarchs on State Performance," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 93(1), pages 95-128, January.
    6. Hoch, Georg & Pondorfer, Andreas & Shkola, Viktoriia, 2025. "Conflict and social capital: Evidence from the Russian War against Ukraine," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 461-471.
    7. Sergio Galletta & Tommaso Giommoni, 2024. "War Violence Exposure and Tax Compliance," CESifo Working Paper Series 11230, CESifo.
    8. Michel Serafinelli & Guido Tabellini, 2023. "Correction: Creativity over time and space," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 337-338, June.
    9. Alessandro Belmonte & Desiree Teobaldelli & Davide Ticchi, 2024. "Expected foreign military intervention and demand for state-building: evidence from Mali," Working Papers 493, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche (I), Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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