The introduction of technical analysis to the field of economic history over the past half-century has been nothing short of revolutionary, and the science that has resulted - commonly labelled 'cliometrics' - has now become the dominant methodology in the field. This book charts the development of the cliometric style of economic history as it has developed since its inception in the mid 1950s. The tradition as it has developed on both sides of the Atlantic is examined, and amongst the economic historians interviewed are Deirdre McCloskey, Paul David, Douglass North and Robert Fogel.
Contents, Preface and Acknowledgments, Sources and Conventions, Introduction: Economic History and Cliometrics, I. Anglo-American Economic History to World War II, II. Before the New Economic History, III. New Economic History in North America, IV. Historical Economics in Britain, V. Controversy: Or, One Thing Leads to Another, VI. Cliometrics over 50 Years: Retrospect and Prospect, Part I. Before the New Economic History: North America, Moses Abramovitz, interviewed by Alexander J. Field, Malcolm C. Urquhart, interviewed by R. Marvin McInnis,Anna J. Schwartz, interviewed by Eugene N. White, Walt W. Rostow, interviewed by John V. C. Nye, Stanley Lebergott, interviewed by Fred Carstensen, Part II. Before the New Economic History: Great Britain, H. J. (Sir John) Habakkuk, interviewed by Mark Thomas, Phyllis Deane, interviewed by Nicholas F. R. Crafts, W. A. (Max) Cole, interviewed by A. J. H. Latham, R. C. O. (Robin) Matthews, interviewed by Nicholas von Tunzelmann and Mark Thomas, Part III. New Economic Historians: The Elders, William N. Parker, interviewed by Paul Rhode, Douglass C. North, interviewed by Gary D. Libecap, John S. Lyons and Samuel H. Williamson, Further Reflections, Part IV. La Loi Lafayette: Cliometrics at Purdue, Lance Davis, interviewed by Samuel H. Williamson and John S. Lyons, Jonathan Hughes, interviewed by Charles Calomiris, Nathan Rosenberg, interviewed by William A. Sundstrom, Part V. The Expatriates, R. M. (Max) Hartwell, interviewed by Mark Thomas, Eric Jones, interviewed by Nancy Folbre and Michael Huberman, Further Reflections, Charles H. Feinstein, interviewed by Mark Thomas, Part VI. From the Workshop of Simon Kuznets, Economist, Richard A. Easterlin, interviewed by Kenneth L. Sokoloff, Robert E. Gallman, interviewed by William K. Hutchinson, Robert William Fogel, interviewed by Samuel H. Williamson and John S. Lyons, Further Reflections (with Mark Guglielmo), Stanley Engerman, interviewed by Anthony Patrick O'Brien, Further Reflections, Part VII: From the Workshop of Alexander Gerschenkron, Economic Historian, John R. Meyer, interviewed by John C. Brown, Albert Fishlow, interviewed by Eugene N. White, Further Reflections, Paul A. David, interviewed by Susan B. Carter, Peter Temin, interviewed by John C. Brown, Further Reflections, Afterword, The Shock, Achievements and Disappointments of the New, Patrick Karl O'Brien