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Solving the longitude puzzle: A story of clocks, ships and cities

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  • Miotto, Martina
  • Pascali, Luigi

Abstract

In the 19th century, the process of European expansion led to unprecedented changes in the urban landscape outside of Europe, with the urban population moving towards the coast and tripling in size. We argue that the majority of these changes can be explained by a single innovation, the chronometer, which allowed European explorers and merchants to measure longitude at sea. We use high-resolution global data on climate, ship routes, and demography from 1750 to 1900 to investigate empirically (i) the role of the adoption of the marine chronometer in re-routing trans-oceanic navigation, and (ii) the impact of these changes on the distribution of cities and population across the globe. Our identification relies on the differential impact of the chronometer across trans-oceanic sailing routes.

Suggested Citation

  • Miotto, Martina & Pascali, Luigi, 2022. "Solving the longitude puzzle: A story of clocks, ships and cities," CEPR Discussion Papers 17037, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:17037
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    Cited by:

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    2. Timothy J. Hatton, 2024. "Sailing Ship Technology, Navigation and the Duration of Voyages to Australia, 1848-85," CEH Discussion Papers 07, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    3. Timothy J. Hatton, 2025. "Emigrant voyages from the UK to North America and Australasia, 1853–1913," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 78(2), pages 452-473, May.
    4. Edward Kerby & Alexander Moradi & Hanjo Odendaal, 2025. "African time travellers: What can we learn from 500 years of written accounts?," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 78(1), pages 295-332, February.
    5. Pamina Koenig & Sandra Poncet & Mathieu Sanch‐Maritan & Claude Duvallet & Yoann Pigné, 2024. "Sold to China: Container traffic in the Port of Piraeus," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 510-544, May.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R4 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics

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