The Accumulation of Human Capital and the Transition from Malthusian Stagnation to Modern Economic Growth

Tasks

There is an increasing literature which stresses the importance of human capital for economic growth. The aim of this project is to study the main determinants of education in historical perspective and in particular to analyze the relationship between land distribution and the accumulation of human capital. In the latter project the interaction between land distribution and labor market institutions and its effect on the accumulation of human capital is also explored. Furthermore, the project aims to study the effect of human capital on the fertility transition at the end of the nineteenth century, which marked the transition from a Malthusian stagnation to modern economic growth. In this respect, a study investigates how English couples from 1540 to 1800 adjusted age at marriage and birth intervals to changes in economic conditions. Further studies, which are also part of the dissertation project, analyze the relationship between human capital, innovation, and economic growth using data on patenting activity in Prussia in the 19th century. In particular a project aims to identify the effect of cultural diversity on innovative activity.

Methods

Empirical analysis

Data sources

Censuses of the Prussian Statistical Bureau

Publication

Cinnirella, Francesco and Jochen Streb, "The Role of Human Capital and Innovation in Economic Development: Evidence from Post-Malthusian Prussia", Journal of Economic Growth 22 (2), 2017, 193–227 

Cinnirella, Francesco, Marc Klemp and Jacob Weisdorf, "Malthus in the Bedroom: Birth Spacing as Birth Control in Pre-Transition England", Demography 54 (2), 2017, 413–436, Working Paper version available as: CESifo Working Paper No. 6167 (PDF) 

Cinnirella, Francesco and Erik Hornung, "Landownership Concentration and the Expansion of Education", Journal of Development Economics 121, 2016, 135–152, Working Paper version available as: CESifo Working Paper 3603 (PDF)

Becker, Sascha, Francesco Cinnirella, Erik Hornung and Ludger Wößmann, "iPEHD - The ifo Prussian Economic History Database", Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History 47 (2), 2014, 57–66, Information, Working paper version available as: CESifo Working Paper 3904 (PDF)

Becker, Sascha O., Francesco Cinnirella and Ludger Woessmann, "Does Women’s Education Affect Fertility? Evidence from Pre-Demographic Transition Prussia", European Review of Economic History 17 (1), 2013, 24–44, Information, Working paper version available as: CESifo Working Paper 3430 (PDF)

Becker, Sascha O., Francesco Cinnirella and Ludger Woessmann, "The Effect of Investment in Children’s Education on Fertility in 1816 Prussia", Cliometrica 6 (1), 2012, 29–44, Information, Working paper version available as: CESifo Working Paper 3252 (PDF)

Cinnirella, Francesco, Marc Piopiunik and Joachim Winter, "Why Does Height Matter for Educational Attainment? Evidence from German Children", Economics and Human Biology 9 (4), 2011, 407–418, Working paper version available as: CESifo Working Paper 2983 (PDF) 

Becker, Sascha O., Francesco Cinnirella and Ludger Woessmann, "The Trade-off between Fertility and Education: Evidence from before the Demographic Transition", Journal of Economic Growth 15 (3), 2010, 177–204, Working paper version available as: CESifo Working Paper 2775 (PDF)