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To block or not : why the British ruling elite enabled the Industrial Revolution during the 18th century

Gulsunar, Emrah LU (2024) In European Review of Economic History 28(3). p.335-359
Abstract

This study explores why the ruling elite in 18th-century Britain not only allowed but actively supported industrialization. Economic rents, political power, and international competition are commonly cited as the reasons, but these explanations lack empirical evidence. By conducting a text analysis of parliamentary legislation and debates on the cotton industry, this study demonstrates that the ruling elite was primarily motivated by keeping unemployment low and sustaining the British economy’s international competitiveness. A favorable political system facilitated the realization of the elite’s objectives.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Review of Economic History
volume
28
issue
3
pages
25 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85201059688
ISSN
1361-4916
DOI
10.1093/ereh/heae005
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2fe4aca8-6871-4759-8358-e8705be0df05
date added to LUP
2024-09-09 13:11:06
date last changed
2024-09-09 13:12:23
@article{2fe4aca8-6871-4759-8358-e8705be0df05,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study explores why the ruling elite in 18th-century Britain not only allowed but actively supported industrialization. Economic rents, political power, and international competition are commonly cited as the reasons, but these explanations lack empirical evidence. By conducting a text analysis of parliamentary legislation and debates on the cotton industry, this study demonstrates that the ruling elite was primarily motivated by keeping unemployment low and sustaining the British economy’s international competitiveness. A favorable political system facilitated the realization of the elite’s objectives.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gulsunar, Emrah}},
  issn         = {{1361-4916}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{335--359}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{European Review of Economic History}},
  title        = {{To block or not : why the British ruling elite enabled the Industrial Revolution during the 18th century}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ereh/heae005}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/ereh/heae005}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}