History Matters: Essays on Economic Growth, Technology, and Demographic Change [Hardcover]

William Sundstrom (Editor), Timothy Guinnane (Editor), Warren Whatley (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2003

Combining theoretical work with careful historical description and analysis of new data sources, History Matters makes a strong case for a more historical approach to economics, both by argument and by example. Seventeen original essays, written by distinguished economists and economic historians, use economic theory and historical cases to explore how and why “history matters.”

The chapters, which range in subject matter from the economic theory of irreversible investment to the nineteenth-century decline in U.S. rural fertility to the English poor law reform, are unified by three themes. The first explores the significance, causes, and consequences of path dependence in the evolution of technology and institutions. The second relates to the ways in which economic and political behavior are profoundly shaped and constrained by the cultural and political context inherited from history at a particular point in time. The final theme demonstrates the importance of integrating economic theory into historical research in the gathering and interpretation of data.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“...a book which should be read by every economic historian with an interest in long-run institutional change and economic growth.”—EH.Net

From the Inside Flap

Combining theoretical work with careful historical description and analysis of new data sources, History Matters makes a strong case for a more historical approach to economics, both by argument and by example. Seventeen original essays, written by distinguished economists and economic historians, use economic theory and historical cases to explore how and why “history matters.”
The chapters, which range in subject matter from the economic theory of irreversible investment to the nineteenth-century decline in U.S. rural fertility to the English poor law reform, are unified by three themes. The first explores the significance, causes, and consequences of path dependence in the evolution of technology and institutions. The second relates to the ways in which economic and political behavior are profoundly shaped and constrained by the cultural and political context inherited from history at a particular point in time. The final theme demonstrates the importance of integrating economic theory into historical research in the gathering and interpretation of data.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Stanford University Press; 1 edition (October 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804743983
• ISBN-13: 978-0804743983
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,806,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars yes, history matters, January 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: History Matters: Essays on Economic Growth, Technology, and Demographic Change (Hardcover)

The editors of this festschrift for Paul David, one of the greatest living economic historians - and one of those who has influenced leading economists most - have done him proud.

Festschrifts don't always work. They are prone to prolixity, and to be the recepticles of papers unwanted elsewhere. This is not the case here. The editors' decision to focus only on topics associated with Paul David give his Festschrift more unity than most, and Guinnane et al. have persuaded a stellar list of authors to contribute. These include Nobel Laureate Ken Arrow, Charles Feinstein, Tim Besley, David Weir, Warren Sanderson, and several more.

Over four decades Paul David has made seminal, brilliant, and highly imaginative contributions to the measurement of early U.S. economic growth, to explaining that growth, to the economics and economic history of technological change, and to demographic history. For this he deserves the gratitude of all economic historians. The papers reflect his achievement, and point to its ability to inspire more work.

All economic historians need to know about and read chunks of this book.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History Matters, and how!, January 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: History Matters: Essays on Economic Growth, Technology, and Demographic Change (Hardcover)

This is a celebratory volume for Paul A. David, the noted Stanford (and subsequently Oxford) economic historian. David is known internationally for his contributions in American economic history, demography, and the economics of science and technology. He has long been engaged in investigating the conditions that give rise to path dependence in micro- and macro-economic phenomena.

The book brings together a group of David's students and colleagues who present seventeen papers. Nine of the papers deal with path-dependence, one of David's trademark issues; four of the papers look to the influence of culture, geography, and political institutions on economies and policies, another area in which David has made important contributions; and four deal with economic growth and demographic change, yet another of David's central concerns.

The cast of authors is impressive, including David's Stanford colleague and Nobel laureate Kenneth Arrow, as well as contemporaries from the old guard in economic history, Peter Temin, Richard Sutch, and Charles Feinstein. Contributors from a younger generation include a number of David's impressive students: Charles Calomiris, Tim Guinnane, Joshua Rosenbloom, Bill Sundstrom, David Weiman, David Weir, and Warren Whatley.

Guinnane, Sundstrom, and Whatley are to be commended for putting together such an outstanding volume. They have surely done their teacher proud.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History Matters, and how!, January 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: History Matters: Essays on Economic Growth, Technology, and Demographic Change (Hardcover)

This is a celebratory volume for Paul A. David, the noted Stanford (and subsequently Oxford) economic historian. David is known internationally for his contributions in American economic history, demography, and the economics of science and technology. He has long been engaged in investigating the conditions that give rise to path dependence in micro- and macro-economic phenomena.

The book brings together a group of David's students and colleagues who present seventeen papers. Nine of the papers deal with path-dependence, one of David's trademark issues; four of the papers look to the influence of culture, geography, and political institutions on economies and policies, another area in which David has made important contributions; and four deal with economic growth and demographic change, yet another of David's central concerns.

The cast of authors is impressive, including David's Stanford colleague and Nobel laureate Kenneth Arrow, as well as contemporaries from the old guard in economic history, Peter Temin, Richard Sutch, and Charles Feinstein. Contributors from a younger generation include a number of David's impressive students: Charles Calomiris, Tim Guinnane, Joshua Rosenbloom, Bill Sundstrom, David Weiman, David Weir, and Warren Whatley.

Guinnane, Sundstrom, and Whatley are to be commended for putting together such an outstanding volume. They have surely done their teacher proud.