Economic effects of the Black Death: Spain in European perspective

Authors

  • Carlos Álvarez-Nogal Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
  • Leandro Prados de la Escosura Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
  • Carlos Santiago-Caballero Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33231/j.ihe.2020.10.001

Keywords:

black death, frontier economy, Malthusian economy, Spain

Abstract

The Black Death was the most devastating demographic shock in recorded human history. However, the effects in the European population were highly asymmetrical as were its economic consequences. This paper surveys the short and long run economic effects of the plague in Spain in European perspective. While the demographic impact in Spain was moderate compared to the European average, the economic effects were more severe and incomes per head fell sharply. This was a consequence of the existence of a frontier economy in Spain characterised by a relative scarcity of labour and a fragile equilibrium between factors of production. Unlike most of Europe, in Spain the Black Death increased inequality as the remuneration of labour decreased more rapidly than proprietors’ gains. In the long term the Plague reinforced the frontier economy status.

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Published

2020-11-16

How to Cite

Álvarez-Nogal, C., Prados de la Escosura, L., & Santiago-Caballero, C. (2020). Economic effects of the Black Death: Spain in European perspective. Investigaciones De Historia Económica, 16(4), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.33231/j.ihe.2020.10.001