James Foreman?Peck|Peng Zhou
Late marriage as a contributor to the industrial revolution in England
Cardiff University|Cardiff University
abstract european marriage pattern important contributor englands precocious economic development article examines question embedding possibility historically substantiated demographiceconomic model supported crosssection long time series evidence persistent high mortality powerful mortality shocks fourteenth fifteenth centuries lowered life expectations subsequently increased life expectancy reduced number births necessary achieve given family size fewer births achieved higher age first marriage females later marriage constrained population growth also provided greater opportunities female informal learning especially service period family principal institution socializing future workers learning significant contributor intergenerational transmission accumulation human capital article shows centuries gradual induced rise human capital raised productivity eventually brought industrial revolution without contribution late marriage human capital accumulation broadly interpreted real wages england would increased strongly early nineteenth century would much lower actually achieved several centuries