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A Pull-Push Theory of Industrial Revolutions

Author

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  • Bernard Beaudreau

    (Université Laval)

Abstract

Drawing from the only two known industrial revolutions, this paper present a theory of technological/structural/industrial revolutions based on pull and push factors. Specifically, generalizing from the first industrial revolution (FIR) in Great Britain and the U.S. post-bellum economic growth (1880-1900) and second industrial revolution (SIR), we show that two fundamental conditions appear to be necessary, namely the existence of a set of new market opportunities (pull) as well as the existence of a new set of process innovations/new technologies (push). In other words, the overriding, underlying shock (i.e. the ultimate cause) must induce push and pull factors, without which the revolution in question will not occur. In the case of the first industrial revolution, we argue that the migration of 100,000-140,000 French Huguenot refugees to the shores of England, Ireland and Scotland was among the causes, while in the case of the second industrial revolution, it was the steam engine which ultimately contributed to the opening up of the West, the creation of a national market and the resulting mass production.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard Beaudreau, 2018. "A Pull-Push Theory of Industrial Revolutions," Proceedings of International Academic Conferences 7508525, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
    • Handle: RePEc:sek:iacpro:7508525
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    File URL: https://iises.net/proceedings/iises-annual-conference-sevilla/table-of-content/detail?cid=75&iid=006&rid=8525
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industrial Revolution; Networks; Innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • N14 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: 1913-

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