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Precocious Albion: A New Interpretation of the British Industrial Revolution

Kelly, Morgan, Mokyr, Joel, Gráda, Cormac Ó·2014·Annual Review of Economics
DOI 10.1146/annurev-economics-080213-041042
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Abstract

Many explanations have been offered for the British Industrial Revolution. This article points to the importance of human capital (broadly defined) and the quality of the British labor force on the eve of the Industrial Revolution. It shows that in terms of both physical quality and mechanical skills, British workers around 1750 were at a much higher level than their continental counterparts. As a result, new inventions—no matter where they originated—were adopted earlier, faster, and on a larger scale in Britain than elsewhere. The gap in labor quality is consistent with the higher wages paid in eighteenth-century Britain. The causes for the higher labor quality are explored and found to be associated with a higher level of nutrition and better institutions, especially England’s Poor Law and the superior functioning of its apprenticeship system.

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Metadata

Authors
Kelly, M., Mokyr, J., & Gráda, C. Ó.
Affiliations
  • University College Dublin (IE)
  • Northwestern University (US)
Corresponding author
Mokyr, Joel
ORCID
Venue
Annual Review of Economics
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2014-08-02
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
363-389
ISSN
  • 1941-1383 (ISSN-L)
  • 1941-1391
DOI
10.1146/annurev-economics-080213-041042
OpenAlex
W2164106743
Cited by
121
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5
FWCI
2.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annual Review of Economics (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Historical Economic and Social Studies
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic Growth and Productivity
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › General Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economic Development and Digital Transformation
Keywords
British Industrial Revolution, human capital, labor quality, mechanical skills, technology adoption, nutrition, poor law, apprenticeship system, institutional quality, comparative economic history

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