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Gravity and Migration before Railways : Evidence from Parisian Prostitutes and Revolutionaries

Author

Listed:
  • Kelly, Morgan

    (University College Dublin, CAGE and CEPR)

  • Cormac ´O Grada

    (University College Dublin and CAGE)

Abstract

Although urban growth historically depended on large inflows of migrants, little is known of the process of migration in the era before railways. Here we use detailed data for Paris on women arrested for prostitution in the 1760s, or registered as prostitutes in the 1830s and 1850s; and of men holding identity cards in the 1790s, to examine patterns of female and male migration. We supplement these with data on all women and men buried in 1833. Migration was highest from areas of high living standards, measured by literacy rates. Distance was a strong deterrent to female migration (reflecting limited employment opportunities) that falls with railways, whereas its considerably lower impact on men barely changes through the nineteenth century.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelly, Morgan & Cormac ´O Grada, 2018. "Gravity and Migration before Railways : Evidence from Parisian Prostitutes and Revolutionaries," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 378, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cge:wacage:378
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Parker Elliott, 2020. "Migration Patterns in Eastern Europe and the World: A Gravity Approach," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 66-79, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N93 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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