EH.N: CfP: "Land and Labour Productivity in Pre-Industrial Agriculture"

[Jacob Weisdorf]

Call for papers:

One-Day Workshop: "Land and Labour Productivity in Pre-Industrial Agriculture"

Venue:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Economics, DK-1455 Copenhagen, Denmark

Date:
November 7, 2008

Theme:

An issue often discussed in relation to pre-industrial agricultural 
development is the effect on agricultural labour productivity of more 
intensive land-use. Some scholars have pointed to the nearly fourfold 
increase of England's population level between 1500 and 1800 and 
compared it to the halving of the share of England's population 
employed in agriculture over the same period as convincing evidence 
that agricultural labour productivity was positively correlated with 
land productivity. Others believe in the idea of an 'industrious 
revolution', and find that agrarian work-intensification in the run 
up to the industrial revolution is indication that land and labour 
productivity might be negatively correlated.

This one-day workshop will be an intimate gathering of international 
scholars interested in agricultural history. We seek previously 
unpublished papers - theoretical as well as empirical - which address 
any aspect of land and labour productivity in pre-industrial 
agriculture. We particularly encourage young scholars to participate 
and present their ongoing research.

Bruce MS Campbell, Professor of Medieval Economic History at Queen's 
University Belfast and co-editor of the seminal book, 'Land, labour 
and livestock', will open the workshop by reflecting on the themes 
raised by the book nearly two decades after its publication.

Prospective presenters should submit by e-mail a two page abstract 
and a short CV to Jacob Weisdorf (e-mail: jacob.weisdorf at econ.ku.dk) 
by May 1, 2008. Notification of acceptance will be given by June, 
2008.

Workshop organizers:

Paul Sharp, University of Copenhagen
Jacob Weisdorf, University of Copenhagen