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Epidemic trade

Author

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  • Boerner, Lars
  • Severgnini, Battista

Abstract

This paper uses the spread of disease as a proxy to measure economic interactions. Based on a case study of the Black Death (1346-51) in the Mediterranean region and Europe, we find geographic, institutional, and cultural determinants of trade. To achieve this we create and empirically test a trade model between cities. Our findings allow us to create a new methodology to measure economic interaction and shed light on open questions in economics, especially pertaining to trade, economic history, and growth

Suggested Citation

  • Boerner, Lars & Severgnini, Battista, 2014. "Epidemic trade," Economic History Working Papers 60382, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:wpaper:60382
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/60382/
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    5. Börner, Lars & Severgnini, Battista, 2011. "Epidemic trade," Discussion Papers 2011/12, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    6. Karolina Drela & Agnieszka Malkowska & Anna Bera & Anna Tokarz-Kocik, 2021. "Instruments for Managing the EU Labour Market in the Face of the COVID-19 Crisis," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 984-998.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trade; Black Death; gravity model; Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood; spatial regression discontinuity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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