History shows that Greece is able to implement meaningful reform

But it also shows that external pressure is crucial in unlocking the reform potential, writes Matthias Mory

Globalization, 1870-1914

This paper surveys the causes and consequences of late 19th century globalization, as well as the anti-globalization backlash of that period.

Europe and Globalization, 1870-1914

This paper surveys the causes and consequences of late 19th century globalization, as well as the anti-globalization backlash of that period

Bimetallists and Monometallists on European Monetary Unification (1865-1892). A comment on Claire Silvant

In the previous issue of this journal Claire Silvant argued that late 19th century bimetallists identified themselves more closely with the endeavour of European monetary unification than their gold monometallic counterparts. I will argue that, if anything, the reverse was true. French gold monometallists were more supportive of European monetary unification.Dans le numéro précédent de la revue, Claire Silvant défend l’idée que les bimétallistes de la fin du 19ème siècle s’identifiaient plus étroitement au projet d’unification monétaire européenne que les monométallistes. Dans ce commentaire, je conteste cette thèse et je défends la position contraire. Ce sont plutôt les monométallistes (étalon-or) qui soutenaient l’unification monétaire européenne

Bimetallists and Monometallists on European Monetary Unification (1865-1892). A comment on Claire Silvant

In the previous issue of this journal Claire Silvant argued that late 19th century bimetallists identified themselves more closely with the endeavour of European monetary unification than their gold monometallic counterparts. I will argue that, if anything, the reverse was true. French gold monometallists were more supportive of European monetary unification

Has Eastern Europe always lagged behind the West? Historical evidence from Pre-1870

The collapse of communism in Central, East and South-East Europe led to great hopes in the early 1990s. Three decades on, the initial optimism has given way to a mixed assessment: while the political transformation appears irreversible in some countries, a relapse to more authoritarian forms of government has occurred elsewhere. Similarly, the economic catch-up process takes much longer than originally anticipated. Many of the challenges might not be a legacy of state socialism but could be more deeply rooted. We provide an overview of where quantitative economic history research stands on the origins and persistence of this fundamental West-East-divide, focusing on the period before 1870 (by which time income differences were well established). Serfdom was proposed as an early answer. Non-agricultural explanations fall into three strands: demography, institutional weaknesses, and market access. We briefly discuss to what extent the factors identified here might have generated long-run stagnation in region