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Social and intertemporal differences of basic numeracy in Pannonia (first century BCE to third century CE)

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  • Joerg Baten
  • Stefan Priwitzer

Abstract

In this study, we assess the human capital of Roman legionaries, officers and the civilian population born between the first century BCE and the third century CE in Pannonia (today's West Hungary). Age-heaping techniques allow the measurement of human capital for this early period, although we need to discuss intensively potential selectivity. We find that the Roman military benefited strongly from occupational choice selectivity: those social groups who decided for a military career had better numeracy values than the remainder of the population. This applied especially to the first centuries BCE and CE. Over time, however, the civilian population converged to the military occupational groups. This 'military bias' analysis also contributes to the debate about long-term growth determinants: in some societies, the most educated parts of the elites selected a military career, rather than opting for entreprenuerial activities which might have impacted more positively on macroeconomic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Joerg Baten & Stefan Priwitzer, 2015. "Social and intertemporal differences of basic numeracy in Pannonia (first century BCE to third century CE)," Scandinavian Economic History Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(2), pages 110-134, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:sehrxx:v:63:y:2015:i:2:p:110-134
    DOI: 10.1080/03585522.2015.1032339
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    Cited by:

    1. Baten, Jörg & Cappelli, Gabriele, 2016. "The Evolution of Human Capital in Africa, 1730 – 1970: A Colonial Legacy?," CEPR Discussion Papers 11273, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Brian A'Hearn & Alexia Delfino & Alessandro Nuvolari, 2022. "Rethinking age heaping: a cautionary tale from nineteenth‐century Italy," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 75(1), pages 111-137, February.
    3. Matthias Blum & Karl†Peter Krauss, 2018. "Age heaping and numeracy: looking behind the curtain," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 71(2), pages 464-479, May.
    4. Nuvolari, Alessandro & A'Hearn, Brian & Delfino, Alexia, 2019. "Cognition, Culture, and State Capacity: Age-Heaping in XIX Century Italy," CEPR Discussion Papers 14261, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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