A Shocking View of Economic History

Bibliographic Data

ID5055804
AuthorsLarry Neal (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, corresponding author)
Year2000
Volume60
Issue2
Pages317-334
Publication date2000-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Economic History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0507 • E-ISSN: 1471-6372
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0022050700025110
OpenAlexW2145317894
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited14

Economics, like geology, is an historical science. Geology has made incredible advances by accepting it is an historical, rather than a laboratory science. Economic historians can help economics make similar advances by adopting the research strategies of modern geology. Intensely empirical and global in their range, today's geologists focus on the historical remains of shocking, usually catastrophic, events in the earth's past. Already empirical and global, economic historians have ample shocks to study whether their specialty is population, technology, or institutions. A few examples of the possibilities should stimulate us to reinvigorate our parent disciplines of economics and history

Economics · Epistemology · History of science · Positive economics · Economic Theory and Institutions · Economic, financial, and policy analysis · Historical Economic and Social Studies · History · Philosophy

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