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Prices, the military revolution, and western Europe's comparative advantage in violence
Author(s) -
HOFFMAN PHILIP T.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the economic history review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.014
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1468-0289
pISSN - 0013-0117
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2010.00522.x
Subject(s) - industrial revolution , productivity , western europe , comparative history , early modern europe , political science , economy , economic history , economics , development economics , history , international trade , economic growth , law , ancient history , european union
Price data from England, France, and Germany show that the military sector in western Europe experienced rapid and sustained productivity growth well before the industrial revolution. The productivity growth has implications for the history of the military revolution in early modern Europe and helps explain why western Europe gained a comparative advantage in violence. It also raises questions about the economic impact of the military revolution.