New answers to old questions : explaining the slow adoption of ring spinning in Lancashire, 1880-1913

Leunig, Tim (2001) New answers to old questions : explaining the slow adoption of ring spinning in Lancashire, 1880-1913. Journal of Economic History, 61 (2). 439 -466. ISSN 0022-0507

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Abstract

This paper re-examines theories previously advanced to explain Lancashire’s slow adoption of ring spinning. New cost estimates show that although additional transport costs and technical complementarities between certain types of machine reduced ring adoption rates, these supply side constraints were not dominant. Instead what mattered most were demand side factors. Lancashire produced far more fine yarns than other countries and that yarn was better spun on mules. Furthermore, Lancashire had a sizeable export yarn trade, a market again more suited to mule spinning. Low ring adoption rates were a positive response to demand patterns dominated by high quality goods.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://uk.cambridge.org/journals/jeh
Additional Information:	Published 2001 © Cambridge University Press. LSE has developed LSE Research Online so that users may access research output of the School. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Users may download and/or print one copy of any article(s) in LSE Research Online to facilitate their private study or for non-commercial research. You may not engage in further distribution of the material or use it for any profit-making activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute the URL (http://eprints.lse.ac.uk) of the LSE Research Online website.
Divisions:	Economic History
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2006
Last Modified:	03 Jan 2024 17:48
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/493

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