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European Consumer Price Indices since 1870

Ljungberg, Jonas LU orcid (2023) In Lund Papers in Economic History
Abstract
This paper presents a database with the probably most up-to date and reliable consumer price indices for a large sample of European countries since 1870. The database is a compilation but a contribution by going back to original or ignored works. For some Eastern European countries, where CPIs have been missing, new provisional indices are constructed. It critically examines historical CPIs in oft-used online databases and uncover some alarming inaccuracies and even fallacies. Despite the importance of accurate CPIs in long-term analyses, previously little effort has been put in assessing the quality and comparability of data between countries. Realism of the CPIs is examined within a framework of economic integration, that qualifies... (More)
This paper presents a database with the probably most up-to date and reliable consumer price indices for a large sample of European countries since 1870. The database is a compilation but a contribution by going back to original or ignored works. For some Eastern European countries, where CPIs have been missing, new provisional indices are constructed. It critically examines historical CPIs in oft-used online databases and uncover some alarming inaccuracies and even fallacies. Despite the importance of accurate CPIs in long-term analyses, previously little effort has been put in assessing the quality and comparability of data between countries. Realism of the CPIs is examined within a framework of economic integration, that qualifies received views. Lack of integration of Mediterranean countries before mid-twentieth century is validated, and contradictory patterns of integration in interwar and post-war Europe uncovered. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
published
subject
keywords
consumer price indices, cost of living, source criticism, economic integration, E31, N13, N14
in
Lund Papers in Economic History
issue
2023:252
pages
56 pages
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3aa75a27-9fea-4cb7-b771-250090a08b9b
date added to LUP
2023-09-14 13:00:50
date last changed
2023-09-14 13:00:50
@misc{3aa75a27-9fea-4cb7-b771-250090a08b9b,
  abstract     = {{This paper presents a database with the probably most up-to date and reliable consumer price indices for a large sample of European countries since 1870. The database is a compilation but a contribution by going back to original or ignored works. For some Eastern European countries, where CPIs have been missing, new provisional indices are constructed. It critically examines historical CPIs in oft-used online databases and uncover some alarming inaccuracies and even fallacies. Despite the importance of accurate CPIs in long-term analyses, previously little effort has been put in assessing the quality and comparability of data between countries. Realism of the CPIs is examined within a framework of economic integration, that qualifies received views. Lack of integration of Mediterranean countries before mid-twentieth century is validated, and contradictory patterns of integration in interwar and post-war Europe uncovered.}},
  author       = {{Ljungberg, Jonas}},
  keywords     = {{consumer price indices; cost of living; source criticism; economic integration; E31; N13; N14}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Working Paper}},
  number       = {{2023:252}},
  series       = {{Lund Papers in Economic History}},
  title        = {{European Consumer Price Indices since 1870}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/158478931/LUPEH_252.pdf}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}