scholarly journals Plagues, Wages, and Economic Change in the Islamic Middle East, 700–1500

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 196-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Şevket Pamuk ◽  
Maya Shatzmiller

This study establishes long-term trends in the purchasing power of the wages of unskilled workers and develops estimates for GDP per capita for medieval Egypt and Iraq. Wages were heavily influenced by two long-lasting demographic shocks, the Justinian Plague and the Black Death and the slow population recovery that followed. As a result, they remained above the subsistence minimum for most of the medieval era. We also argue that the environment of high wages that emerged after the Justinian Plague contributed to the Golden Age of Islam by creating demand for higher income goods.

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 553-590

This study establishes long-term trends in the purchasing power of the wages of unskilled workers and develops estimates for GDP per capita for medieval Egypt and Iraq. Wages were heavily influenced by two long-lasting demographic shocks, the Justinian Plague and the Black Death and the slow population recovery that followed. As a result, they remained above the subsistence minimum for most of the medieval era. We also argue that the environment of high wages that emerged after the Justinian Plague contributed to the Golden Age of Islam by creating demand for higher income goods.


Author(s):  
Olga BUCHINSKAIA ◽  
Elena STREMOUSOVA

Purpose – the purpose of the study is to define the sources and restrictions of new industry development based on the R&D -related factors of the countries studied; to show the conditions of inequality based on the existing infrastructure, which are obstacles for achieving an advantage in technology. Research methodology – the panel studies were conducted on four groups of countries divided by the level of GDP per capita. High technology exports and charges for the use of the intellectual property were used as dependent variables. Findings – as a result of the study, the factors that influenced the dependent variables in each of these groups of countries were identified. The differences in the significance of factors are shown. Research limitations – the limitations of the study are significant gaps in the time series for a number of countries. They make it impossible to use such data in the econometric model. Some indicators are taken into account relatively recently, which makes it impossible to consider long-term trends. Practical implications – the results of the research should help the country decision-makers optimize measures to develop domestic R&D and innovative production. Originality/Value – the originality of the research is the study of country sets grouped by the level of GDP per capita. The specifics of patents and trademarks influence on the innovative activity of countries with different income levels are determined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-300
Author(s):  
Jan Luiten van Zanden ◽  
Jutta Bolt

AbstractAs contribution to the debate about the interpretation of the process of economic growth before the Industrial Revolution, we discuss two concerns about the currently available estimates of historical national accounts and the way in which these estimates should be interpreted. Firstly, we argue that estimates of the long-term trends of economic growth should make use of all information contained in time series of Gross Domestic Product (GDP henceforth), and therefore use standard regression analysis to establish those trends. Secondly, we point to the problem that the time series of historical GDP are based on very different estimation procedures, which probably affect the outcome in terms of the level of GDP per capita in the period before 1850. Both concerns imply that we do not entirely agree with Jack Goldstone’s views of pre-industrial growth. In particular, his conclusion that growth was cyclical before 1800 is inconsistent with the available GDP estimates, which point to sustained growth, albeit at a very low rate.


2008 ◽  
pp. 94-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Sorokin

The problem of the Russian economy’s growth rates is considered in the article in the context of Russia’s backwardness regarding GDP per capita in comparison with the developed countries. The author stresses the urgency of modernization of the real sector of the economy and the recovery of the country’s human capital. For reaching these goals short- or mid-term programs are not sufficient. Economic policy needs a long-term (15-20 years) strategy, otherwise Russia will be condemned to economic inertia and multiplying structural disproportions.


Author(s):  
L.V. Detochenko

The role and place of the tourism industry in the economic complex of Georgia are considered; the conclusion is made about the “tourist miracle” taking place in the country, which is a factor of the economic growth of the republic. The differences between the concepts of “foreign visitors” and “foreign tourists” are presented. The increase in the contribution of the tourism industry and related industries involved in the tourism industry in the creation of the gross domestic product of the country, its impact on the growth of the Georgian budget and GDP per capita, the average monthly wage is shown. The conclusion about the need to increase the share of medium and long-term tourists among foreign visitors and tourists in the country is justified. The problems of the return of tourists, the long-term stay in Georgia, the differences of the countries-generators of tourist flows by these indicators have been studied. The changes in work and the prospects of various types of transport for the delivery of tourists to Georgia are analyzed, the measures to improve the tourist transport component are proposed. The correlation between the number of tourist arrivals and the average cost of tourists visiting Georgia from different countries is shown and the economic profitability of attracting Russian tourists, capable of filling all the tourist destinations of the country, contributing to the “tourist miracle” of Georgia is considered.


2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nenad Stanišić

This paper evaluates income convergence in the European Union, between “old” (EU15) and “new” member states from Central and East Europe (CEE10), and among the countries within these two groups. The GDP per capita convergence should be expected according to the exogenous economic growth model and neoclassical trade theory. The presence of σ-convergence and both absolute and conditional β-convergence is tested for on a sample of 25 European Union countries (EU25). Results confirm the existence of β-convergence of GDP per capita at purchasing power parity among EU25, but not among EU15 and CEE10 countries. σ-convergence has been confirmed among EU25 and CEE10 countries, while GDP per capita has been diverging in the EU15 group of countries. Moreover, the results reveal that recent economic crisis has reversed long-term tendencies and led to income convergence within EU15 and divergence within CEE10. During the crisis, the income differences among the EU25 countries have increased, but the scope and duration of this effect has been limited and has not affected the long term convergence path. However, the obtained long term speed of convergence is significantly lower compared with the previous researches.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 365-368
Author(s):  
Luis Fernando Panelli

Abstract The Co-operative Republic of Guyana has become one of the most interesting and dynamic oil producing countries in the world at the start of the 21st century. The country already holds 5 billion barrels of proved reserves, which will certainly grow with new discoveries. Exxon leads a consortium of four companies that have the concession of the Stabroek Block (Liza Field), where nine discoveries have been made so far. Five FPSOs will be operating in the future, one of which is due to arrive in Guyana before the end of 2019 and another is due for 2020. By then, the country will be producing 340,000 barrels a day. This production will double and then reach 1 million barrels a day before the end of the next decade. The challenges and opportunities regarding the Guyanese people are dire. The lack of proper infrastructure is certainly one of the biggest challenges. But it is important to stress that the oil proceeds will transform Guyana into the highest GDP per capita of South America. The political stage is also analysed, since political instability might raise concerns for long-term investors. The Venezuela–Guyana differences regarding the sovereignty of the Essequibo Region are again a cause for concern. Brazil is a key player in supporting the geopolitical stability of South America. Presidential elections will be held in 2019/2020: the dispute will probably be between the current President Granger and the Opposition candidate Irfaan Ali. Guyana has a lot to profit from the wealth brought by oil exploitation, but its people fear the risk of growing corruption.


2012 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 956-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bozhong Li ◽  
Jan Luiten van Zanden

This article tests recent ideas about the long-term economic development of China compared with Europe on the basis of a detailed comparison of structure and level of GDP in part of the Yangzi delta and the Netherlands in the 1820s. We find that Dutch GDP per capita was almost twice as high as in the Yangzi delta. Agricultural productivity there was at about the same level as in the Netherlands (and England), but large productivity gaps existed in industry and services. We attempt to explain this concluding that differences in factor costs are probably behind disparities in labor productivity.


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