Elise S. Brezis - Social classes, demographic transition and economic

Journal article

Elise S. Brezis
European Economic Review, vol. 45(4-6), Elsevier, 2001 May, pp. 707-717

Cite

APA Click to copy
Brezis, E. S. (2001). Social classes, demographic transition and economic growth. European Economic Review, 45(4-6), 707–717. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-2921(01)00111-8

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Brezis, Elise S. “Social Classes, Demographic Transition and Economic Growth.” European Economic Review 45, no. 4-6 (May 2001): 707–717.

MLA Click to copy
Brezis, Elise S. “Social Classes, Demographic Transition and Economic Growth.” European Economic Review, vol. 45, no. 4-6, Elsevier, May 2001, pp. 707–17, doi:10.1016/S0014-2921(01)00111-8.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{brezis2001a,
  title = {Social classes, demographic transition and economic growth},
  year = {2001},
  month = may,
  issue = {4-6},
  journal = {European Economic Review},
  pages = {707-717},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  volume = {45},
  doi = {10.1016/S0014-2921(01)00111-8},
  author = {Brezis, Elise S.},
  month_numeric = {5}
}

Abstract

This paper analyzes the role of the demographic transition in the emergence of sustained economic growth, and shows that these two processes are related. Unlike previous contributions which have focused on the importance of human capital, this paper suggests that capital accumulation, and the existence of different social classes may provide an alternative explanation for the observed pattern of output, fertility rates and wages during the 19th century. The framework presented shows that during the first phase of industrialization, a decline in capital–labor ratio reduces the wage rate and increases the dependency of the family unit on child labor, increasing fertility rates. However, in later phases the increase in the capital–labor ratio, due to the saving of the business elite, reduces the necessity of child labor bringing about the demographic transition.

Keywords: social classes, demographic transition, capital, proletariat, fertility, growth