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Coal and Sugar: The Black and White Gold of Czech Industrialization (1841-1863)

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  • Nielsen, Hana

    (Department of Economic History, Lund University)

Abstract

This article studies the fast fossil fuel transition in the context of steam adoption in the Czech lands. I show how geographical proximity to coal brought forward the early industrialization of the Czech lands. The region’s fast transition to modern fuels fundamentally transformed the industrial landscape and laid foundations for the development of new industries. Coal, steam and sugar became the central elements, moving the Czech lands closer to the European core. Overall, this article challenges the traditional view of the economic backwardness and shows on what grounds the Czech lands became the economic powerhouse of the Habsburg Empire.

Suggested Citation

  • Nielsen, Hana, 2021. "Coal and Sugar: The Black and White Gold of Czech Industrialization (1841-1863)," Lund Papers in Economic History 229, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:luekhi:0229
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    industrialization; distance to coal; steam engines; Poisson regression; spatial regression;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • N73 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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