The Great Divergence
- Created by: katie_lm
- Created on: 02-05-18 11:07
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- The Great Divergence
- Overview
- Definition: the process by which Western Europe entered a period of rapid growth allowing it to overtake Asian nations in terms of development.
- Timing: multiple different views
- California schools view (Pomeranz) : 1800s
- Allen: originated in the pre-industrial period (1500-1750).
- Traditional/ near consensus view: Began with the age of enlightenment in the 18th century.
- Indicators: Growth in the gap of living standards.
- Allen: focused his work on silver wages.
- Shisue and Keller used price convergence data.
- Why was Britain first?
- Institutions
- Setting up of an independent Judicial System: established property rights and patents.
- Patents: provide legal rights over an idea or invention.
- Property rights: Gave legal ownership of land to individuals.
- Setting up of an independent Judicial System: established property rights and patents.
- Agriculture
- Rise of capitalist farming: specialisation meant that less workers were needed to produce the same level of output.
- Started the process of hiring and firing.
- Greater incentives for workers to leave rural areas.
- Rise of capitalist farming: specialisation meant that less workers were needed to produce the same level of output.
- Geography
- Coal reserves: easy access to an essential fuel source that powered machinery and therefore growth.
- No need to import making it comparitively cheaper.
- Naturally forming waterways easily navigable.
- Coal reserves: easy access to an essential fuel source that powered machinery and therefore growth.
- Scientific Revolution
- A period when a number of theoreticaland abstract discoveries in natural sciences and maths were made.
- Britain were able to implement the discoveries far more effectively than the r countries as they had high labour costs and low energy cost.
- Less money was having to be spent on labour.
- Institutions
- Overview
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