Work

Mechanical innovation in the industrial revolution: the case of plough design

Year: 2003

Type: article

Abstract: Variations in levels of embodied technology generated variations in English plough prices in 1770. Using plough prices as a quality index, this article explains size and daily output of plough teams. It shows that variations in plough technology were due to technological change—not static optimization—and village plough technology was influenced by neighbouring villages. But technological advance was not constrained on the demand size: farmers purchased the best ploughs available. Rather, local supply of technology was the limiting factor. Technological change, urbanization, and information networks are rejected as explanations of local supply of technology. The key factor was market density.

Source: The Economic History Review

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2003.00258.x

Author: Liam Brunt

Institutions: University of Oxford, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Norwegian School of Economics

Language: English

Topic: Historical Economic and Social Studies

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2005337683

FWCI: 2.372

Cites: 24

Cited by: 19

Related to: 20