
Kerstin Enflo
Professor

Locomotives of Local Growth: The Short- and Long-Term Impact of Railroads in Sweden
Författare
Summary, in English
This paper studies the impact of railroads on town-level growth in Sweden over 150 years. Our analysis builds on the fact that railroads historically were extended quasi-randomly across towns. Towns that gained access to a rail connection grew larger relative to other
towns, with large negative spillovers on unconnected nearby towns. Over the 20th century, we find little adjustment to the initial shock in town populations, despite a sharp reversal in relative connectivity. Evidence on historical investments and present-day factors is consistent with this temporary shock giving rise to path dependence in the location of economic activity.
towns, with large negative spillovers on unconnected nearby towns. Over the 20th century, we find little adjustment to the initial shock in town populations, despite a sharp reversal in relative connectivity. Evidence on historical investments and present-day factors is consistent with this temporary shock giving rise to path dependence in the location of economic activity.
Avdelning/ar
- Ekonomisk-historiska institutionen
Publiceringsår
2014
Språk
Engelska
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Lund Papers in Economic History. General Issues
Issue
132
Fulltext
- Available as PDF - 665 kB
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Dokumenttyp
Working paper
Förlag
Department of Economic History, Lund University
Ämne
- Economic History
Nyckelord
- Path Dependence
- Urban Growth
- Transport Infrastructure
Aktiv
Published