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The long-run impact of human capital on innovation and economic development in the regions of Europe

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  • Claude Diebolt
  • Ralph Hippe

Abstract

Human capital is supposed to be an important factor for innovation and economic development. However, the long-run impact of human capital on current innovation and economic development is still a black box, in particular at the regional level. Therefore, this paper makes the link between the past and the present. Using a large new dataset on regional human capital and other factors in the 19th and 20th century, we find that past regional human capital is a key factor explaining current regional disparities in innovation and economic development.

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  • Claude Diebolt & Ralph Hippe, 2019. "The long-run impact of human capital on innovation and economic development in the regions of Europe," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(5), pages 542-563, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:51:y:2019:i:5:p:542-563
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2018.1495820
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • N90 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • 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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