Global Perspectives

Annual Meeting of the Economic History Association, in Washington, D.C., September 20-22, 2013

Economic history has gone global. The history of international trade, finance, migration, and long run development attracts ever more attention. The global perspective is also transforming the study of individual countries. International comparisons provide a yard stick for gauging what is unique and important in a nation’s history. What role have internal factors like culture and institutions played in explaining differential development and how does their importance compare to the imperatives and opportunities presented by the international economy? What role has economic policy played in shaping the international economic order and in helping countries meet the challenges it presents? Can a country’s economic history any longer be written from a purely national point of view or is a global perspective essential?