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Tall and Shrinking Muslims, Short and Growing Europeans: The Long-Run Welfare Development of the Middle East, 1840-1980

Author

Listed:
  • Jörg Baten

    (University of Tuebingen)

  • Mojgan Stegl

    (University of Tuebingen)

Abstract

"In this study we estimate for the first time anthropometric trends for ten countries in the Middle East for the period 1840-1910, and we follow those countries until the 1980s using Baten’s (2006) estimates. We compare those trends with GDP and real wage data and find that the Middle East had a good position in anthropometric indicators and real wages during the 19th century, less in terms of GDP/c. However, the Middle East lost after 1880 compared to Western Industrial Countries. This might have contributed to general dissatisfaction in the world region and explain some of today’s political problems."

Suggested Citation

  • Jörg Baten & Mojgan Stegl, 2008. "Tall and Shrinking Muslims, Short and Growing Europeans: The Long-Run Welfare Development of the Middle East, 1840-1980," Working Papers 8030, Economic History Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehs:wpaper:8030
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Welfare; Middle East; Anthrometrics; Growth; Living Standards;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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