Résumé

To analyze the effect of labor scarcity on technology adoption and innovation, this study uses the differential spread of cholera across France in 1832, 1849 and 1854, before the transmission mode of this disease was understood. The results suggest that labor scarcity had positive but quantitatively small effects on technology adoption and innovation in agriculture over the next decade. Moreover, labor scarcity had a negative and short-lived impact on mechanization in industry. These results, which are not driven by migration, urbanization or local financial development, can be explained by the positive effect of labor scarcity on human capital formation.

Référence

Raphaël Franck (Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Israel), « Labor Scarcity, Technology Adoption and Innovation: Evidence from the Cholera Pandemics in 19th Century France », IAST General Seminar, Toulouse : IAST, 6 novembre 2020, 11h30–12h30, salle Zoom Meeting.