Books by Jan Luiten van Zanden
“Prak and Van Zanden are trying to explain why the Netherlands is the birthplace of modern capitalism…they look at the long-run origins of Dutch economic development, starting with its feudal, almost republican institutions during the late Middle Ages. They include cooperative institutions like guilds and urban associations, as well as the empowerment of independent cities in the region’s governance structure. These institutions were ultimately protected by the Dutch revolt from Spain. Whereas many other European countries during this period experienced a consolidation of absolutist rule, the Dutch managed to escape. This allowed them to preserve a relatively open society in which cities were autonomous and ruled by local merchant elites. They cooperated and competed with one another in producing an economically open society.” Read more...
The Best Economic History Books of 2022
Davis Kedrosky, Economist
Women and the Birth of Capitalism in Western Europe
by Jan Luiten van Zanden & Tine de Moor
This book has not been translated into English but it’s a real gem. It describes how the European marriage pattern helped the economy bloom
Interviews where books by Jan Luiten van Zanden were recommended
The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness), recommended by Ellen de Bruin
The Dutch science journalist takes a light-hearted look at national stereotypes: why Dutch women are happy, and what it means to be blonde. She picks the best books on Dutch women.
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1
Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History of the Twentieth Century
by Brad DeLong -
2
How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth
by Jared Rubin & Mark Koyama -
3
The World the Plague Made: The Black Death and the Rise of Europe
by James Belich -
4
Pioneers of Capitalism: The Netherlands 1000–1800
by Jan Luiten van Zanden & Maarten Prak -
5
The Cambridge Economic History of China
by by Debin Ma and Richard von Glahn (editors)
The Best Economic History Books of 2022, recommended by Davis Kedrosky
The Best Economic History Books of 2022, recommended by Davis Kedrosky
From a sweeping history of China covering three millennia to what econometrics papers can tell us about what made the world rich, it’s been a fantastic year for economic history books. Davis Kedrosky, a student at Berkeley and publisher of Great Transformations, an economic history newsletter, picks some of his favourite economic history books of 2022.
