EH.Net Abstracts in Economic History

                EHS Abstract Submission
                    (c) 1996 Academic Press
-----------------------------------------------------------
              Name:  Gillian Hamilton
             Email:  HAMILTNG at epas.utoronto.edu
       Institution:  University of Toronto

         Co-author:

             Title:  The Market for Montreal Apprentices: Contract Length
and Information

  Internet Address
of abstracted work:

           By mail:
                     Department of Economics
                     University of Toronto
                     150 St George Street
                     Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1 Canada

          Language:  English

          Abstract:
   This paper examines the nature of apprenticing arrangements in Montreal
around the turn of the nineteenth century, using apprenticeship contracts
from a larger body of notarial records found in Quebec.  The principal
question addressed is what determined apprenticeship length?  I find that
the characteristics of both masters and their boys were important.  For
example, older (more productive) boys served shorter terms, as did those
training under masons and butchers.  There is also evidence that the
precision of a master's estimate of a boy's future value was important.
Masters often relied on probationary periods to better gauge a boy's worth
before signing a contract.  Probations, all else equal, were associated
with shorter contracts.  Because masters anticipated fewer 'failures' when
they were better informed, matches which began with probations were
associated with apprentices of higher expected value.


      Bibliography:  Hamilton, Gillian (1996). "The Market for Montreal
Apprentices: Contract Length and Information." Explorations in Economic
History, October 1996.

           Subject:  G
 Geographical Area:  7
    Country/Region:  Canada
       Time Period:  7