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Why did Switzerland succeed? An analysis of Swiss specializations (1885-1905)

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  • Léo CHARLES

Abstract

The singularity of the Swiss economy during the first globalization is a well-known subject in historiography. Many authors highlight the role of institutions, the size of the country or the weak influence of the lobbies on economic decisions to explain the high economic growth from the 1880’s. Using an original and highly disaggregated database, this article takes into account the Swiss choices in terms of industrial specializations. We found out that the development of modern specializations as well as a move upmarket in the “old” specializations can be one of the explanations of the Swiss ‘miracle’.

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  • Léo CHARLES, 2013. "Why did Switzerland succeed? An analysis of Swiss specializations (1885-1905)," Cahiers du GREThA (2007-2019) 2013-15, Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée (GREThA).
    • Handle: RePEc:grt:wpegrt:2013-15
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    File URL: http://cahiersdugretha.u-bordeaux.fr/2013/2013-15.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas David & André Mach, 2006. "Institutions and Economic Growth: The Successful Experience of Switzerland (1870-1950)," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2006-101, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    3. Hubert Bonin & Bertrand Blancheton, 2009. "La croissance en économie ouverte (XVIIIe-XXIe siècles). Hommage à Jean-Charles Asselain," Post-Print hal-00383129, HAL.
    4. Douglas A. Irwin, 2002. "Interpreting the Tariff-Growth Correlation of the Late Nineteenth Century," NBER Working Papers 8739, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic growth; specialization; Swiss economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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