Thanks! Yes, this is definitely part of Allen’s argument (maybe I should make that more clear).
I’ve been meaning to read that Devereaux post/series for a while, thanks for reminding me of it.
However, I don’t you think can argue from “the Industrial Revolution got started in this very specific way” to “that is the only way any kind of an IR could ever have gotten started.” If it hadn’t been flooded coal mines in Britain, there would have been some other need for energy in some other application.
I see it more as: you develop mechanization and energy technology once you reach that frontier—once your economy hits the point where that is the best marginal investment in development. Britain was one of the most advanced economies, so it hit that frontier first.
Thanks! Yes, this is definitely part of Allen’s argument (maybe I should make that more clear).
I’ve been meaning to read that Devereaux post/series for a while, thanks for reminding me of it.
However, I don’t you think can argue from “the Industrial Revolution got started in this very specific way” to “that is the only way any kind of an IR could ever have gotten started.” If it hadn’t been flooded coal mines in Britain, there would have been some other need for energy in some other application.
I see it more as: you develop mechanization and energy technology once you reach that frontier—once your economy hits the point where that is the best marginal investment in development. Britain was one of the most advanced economies, so it hit that frontier first.
Added a little bit in the revised version to try to clarify this. Thanks again for the feedback