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British business cycles, 1270-1870

Author

Listed:
  • Broadberry, Stephen

    (University of Oxford)

  • Campbell, Bruce M. S.

    (The Queen's University of Belfast)

  • Klein, Alexander

    (University of Kent)

  • Overton, Mark

    (University of Exeter)

  • Leeuwen, Bas van

    (University of Utrecht)

Abstract

Annual estimates of GDP constructed from the output side are used to analyse British business cycles between 1270 and 1870. After c.1670 the scale of recessions tended to diminish as the economy grew, diversified and became more resilient. Until c.1730, business cycles were driven largely by agricultural fluctuations, but shocks to industry and commerce became more important over time as the structure of the economy changed. A number of severe recessions can be identified, associated with harvest failures, disease outbreaks, wars and disruptions to commerce. Monetary and financial factors also played a role in some of these severe recessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Broadberry, Stephen & Campbell, Bruce M. S. & Klein, Alexander & Overton, Mark & Leeuwen, Bas van, 2022. "British business cycles, 1270-1870," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 627, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cge:wacage:627
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    File URL: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres/cage/manage/publications/wp627.2022.pdf
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    Other versions of this item:

    • Stephen Broadberry & Bruce M. S. Campbell & Alexander Klein & Mark Overton & Bas van Leeuwen, 2026. "British business cycles, 1270–1870," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 20(1), pages 37-68, January.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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