ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE BLACK DEATH

14 April 2020

Note: Adolf Ceska asked me to write 1-3 paragraphs on the economic consequences of the Black Death in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. His question was a big one, and I couldn't cover it in a few paragraphs; even writing an entire book wouldn't be enough. Here are some rough notes, presented with a 'health warning' - they only skim the surface, and much more research needs to be done.

Some similarities between Black Death and COVID-19
But also many differences
Economic effects of Black Death

1. Reduction in supply of labour relative to land
2. Shift from arable to pastoral agriculture
3. Improving women's wages
4. General conclusions

For the full text of Sheilagh Ogilvie's notes goto http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/ben/ogilvie.pdf

[Sheilagh C. Ogilvie, FBA, is a Canadian historian, economist, and academic, specializing in economic history. Since 2004, she has been Professor of Economic History at the University of Cambridge, UK. A few weeks ago, Sheilagh accepted the Chichele Professorship of Economic History at All Souls' College, Oxford, UK]

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