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Industry and Identity The Migration Linkage Between Economic and Cultural Change in 19th Century Britain

Author

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  • Vasiliki Fouka
  • Theo Serlin

Abstract

How does economic modernization affect group identity? Modernization theory emphasizes how labor migration led to the adoption of common identities. Yet economic development may reduce incentives to emigrate, preserving local cultures. We study England and Wales during the Second Industrial Revolution, a period characterized by the development of new industries and declines in transportation and communication costs. Using microdata on individuals’ names and migration decisions, we quantify identity change and its variation across space. We develop and estimate a quantitative spatial model in which migration and cultural identities are inter-dependent. Different components of economic modernization had different effects on identity change. Falling migration costs homogenized peripheral regions. In contrast, industrial development led to heterogeneity, increasing the overall prevalence of the culture of London, while also creating local identity holdouts by reducing out-migration from industrializing peripheries. Modernization promotes both national identities and persistent local identities in peripheral regions that industrialize.

Suggested Citation

  • Vasiliki Fouka & Theo Serlin, 2024. "Industry and Identity The Migration Linkage Between Economic and Cultural Change in 19th Century Britain," CESifo Working Paper Series 11441, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11441
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    migration; identity; industrialization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N63 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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