The evolution of wages in early modern Normandy (1600-1850)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4846038
AutoresCédric Chambru (0000-0003-2690-1408, Department of Economics University of Zurich), Paul Maneuvrier‐hervieu (0000-0002-9910-3135, Department of Social and Political Sciences University of Milan)
Año2023
Volumen76
Número3
Páginas917-940
Fecha de publicación2023-08-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Economic History Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0013-0117 • E-ISSN: 1468-0289
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ehr.13220
OpenAlexW4311219422
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas49

This article presents new estimates of wages for Normandy between 1600 and 1850. We use a vast array of primary and secondary sources to assemble two new databases on wages and commodity prices to establish a new regional consumer price index (CPI) and twelve regional wage series. We find that unskilled labourers earned similar wages across the agricultural, maritime, and textile sectors. Historical evidence suggests that Norman employers grappled with a tight labour market, which placed more pressure on wage increases. We posit that this situation is best explained by the combination of the early fertility transition, resulting in slow demographic growth and the rapid development of the textile industry accelerated by the arrival of cotton. Finally, we also provide tentative evidence suggesting that labourers with stable employment could have earned a little less than their English counterparts during this period

Agriculture · Commodity · Economics · Fertility · Geography · Index (typography) · Labour economics · Market economy · Real wages · Sociology · Textile industry · Wage · Wage growth · European Political History Analysis · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis