A flurry of new studies identifies causes of the Industrial Revolution
Slave-ownership, entrepreneurs and labour shortages played key roles
The industrial revolution was the biggest transformation in economic history. For centuries scholars have sought to understand why this process occurred in Britain around 1750. But without the ability to run counter-factual experiments, it is hard to prove any single explanation.
This article appeared in the Graphic detail section of the print edition under the headline “Mother of invention”
From the January 21st 2023 edition
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