Discussion Paper
No. 2014-34 | September 02, 2014
M. Aykut Attar
Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, and the Industrial Revolution

Abstract

This paper constructs a two-sector unified growth model that explains the timing and the inevitability of an industrial revolution through entrepreneurs’ role for the accumulation of useful knowledge. While learning-by-doing in agriculture eventually allows the preindustrial economy to leave its Malthusian trap, an industrial revolution is delayed as entrepreneurs of the manufacturing sector do not attempt invention if not much is known about natural phenomena. On the other hand, these entrepreneurs, as managers, serendipitously identify new useful discoveries in all times, and an industrial revolution inevitably starts at some time. The industrial revolution leads the economy to modern growth, the share of the agricultural sector declines, and the demographic transition is completed with a stabilizing level of population in the very long run. Several factors affect the timing of the industrial revolution in expected directions, but some factors that affect the optimal choice of fertility have ambiguous effects. The analysis almost completely characterizes the equilibrium path from ancient times to the infinite future, and the model economy successfully captures the qualitative aspects of the unified growth experience of England.

JEL Classification:

O31, O33, O41, J13, N33

Links

Cite As

[Please cite the corresponding journal article] M. Aykut Attar (2014). Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, and the Industrial Revolution. Economics Discussion Papers, No 2014-34, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2014-34


Comments and Questions



Anonymous - Referee Report 1
September 17, 2014 - 08:20
see attached file

M. Aykut Attar - Response to the 1st referee report
September 19, 2014 - 13:53 | Author's Homepage
Please see my attached response to the 1st referee report. Best regards, MAA

Anonymous - Invited Reader Comment
October 14, 2014 - 10:05
see attached file

M. Aykut Attar - Response to the Invited Reader's Comments
October 15, 2014 - 09:19 | Author's Homepage
Please see my attached response to the invited reader's comments. Best regards, MAA

Anonymous - Referee Report 2
November 03, 2014 - 09:26
see attached file

M. Aykut Attar - Response to the 2nd referee report
November 14, 2014 - 09:28 | Author's Homepage
Please see my attached response to the 2nd referee report. Best regards, MAA

M. Aykut Attar - The Revised Version
November 14, 2014 - 09:30 | Author's Homepage
Please see the revised version of my paper attached. Best regards, MAA