Technical Change, Non-Tariff Barriers, and the Development of the Italian Locomotive Industry,1850-1913

46 Pages Posted: 17 Mar 2017

See all articles by Carlo Ciccarelli

Carlo Ciccarelli

University of Rome Tor Vergata - Faculty of Economics

Alessandro Nuvolari

Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa - Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM)

Date Written: December 15, 2016

Abstract

The locomotive industry was one of the relatively sophisticated “high-tech” sectors in which Italy, a latecomer country, was successful before 1913. Using technical data on the performance of different vintages of locomotives, we construct a new industry-level index of technical change. We also study the impact of different policy instruments (import duties, non-tariff trade barriers and other discretionary interventions) in shaping the development of the industry. Our reassessment reveals the sound technological performance of Italian locomotives; the successful growth of this industry; and the critical role played by non-tariff barriers in its development.

Keywords: technical progress, locomotive industry, non-tariff barriers, Italy, 19th century

JEL Classification: N73, O25

Suggested Citation

Ciccarelli, Carlo and Nuvolari, Alessandro, Technical Change, Non-Tariff Barriers, and the Development of the Italian Locomotive Industry,1850-1913 (December 15, 2016). Bank of Italy Economic History Working Paper No. 38, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2934242 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2934242

Carlo Ciccarelli (Contact Author)

University of Rome Tor Vergata - Faculty of Economics ( email )

Via Columbia n.2
Rome, rome 00100
Italy

Alessandro Nuvolari

Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa - Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM) ( email )

Piazza Martiri della Liberta', 33-I-56127
Pisa
Italy

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