No. 38 - Technical Change, Non-Tariff Barriers, and the Development of the Italian Locomotive Industry, 1850-1913

Quaderni di Storia economica (Economic History Working Papers)
by Carlo Ciccarelli and Alessandro Nuvolari
November 2016
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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.

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  1. 19 December 2016
    No. 38 - Technical Change, Non-Tariff Barriers, and the Development of the Italian Locomotive Industry, 1850-1913
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