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Globalization and Empire: Market integration and international trade between Canada, the United States and Britain, 1750-1870

Author

Listed:
  • Maja Uhre Pedersen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Vincent Geloso

    (King's University College)

  • Paul Sharp

    (University of Southern Denmark)

Abstract

Previous work has demonstrated the potential for wheat market integration between the US and the UK before the ‘first era of globalization’ in the second half of the nineteenth century. It was however frequently interrupted by policy and ‘exogenous’ events such as war. This paper adds Canada to this story by looking at trade and price data, as well as contemporary debates. We find that she faced similar barriers to the US, and that membership of the British Empire was therefore not a great benefit. We also describe the limitations she faced accessing the US market, in particular after American independence. Transportation costs do not appear to be the main barrier to the emergence of a globalized economy before around 1850.

Suggested Citation

  • Maja Uhre Pedersen & Vincent Geloso & Paul Sharp, 2020. "Globalization and Empire: Market integration and international trade between Canada, the United States and Britain, 1750-1870," Working Papers 0204, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0204
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    File URL: https://www.ehes.org/wp/EHES_204.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Vincent Geloso, 2019. "A price index for Canada, 1688 to 1850," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 52(2), pages 526-560, May.
    6. Vincent Geloso, 2019. "Measuring Away the Importance of Institutions: The Case of Seigneurial Tenure and Agricultural Output in Canada East, 1851," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 100(3), pages 897-910, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vincent Geloso, 2024. "Does the conquest explain Quebec’s historical poverty? The economic consequences of 1760," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 18(3), pages 905-938, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    British Empire; Canada; globalization; market integration; United Kingdom; United States; wheat;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N51 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N53 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N71 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N73 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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