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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Medieval Cities Through the Lens of Urban Economic Theories

Author(s): Remi Jedwab, Noel Johnson and Mark Koyama

Publication Date: May 2020

Keyword(s): Agglomeration effects, Asia, City Growth, Europe, Food Surplus Hypothesis, institutions, LaborMobility, Medieval Era, Pandemics and Urbanization

Programme Area(s): Economic History

Abstract: We draw on theories and empirical findings from urban economics to explore and explain patterns of city growth in the Middle Ages (c. 800-1500 CE). We discuss how agricultural development and physical geography determined the location and size of cities during the medieval period. We also consider the relative importance of economies of scale, agglomeration, and human capital spillovers in medieval cities and discuss how their growth was limited by disamenities and constraints on mobility. We discuss how medieval cities responded to shocks such as the Black Death and describe how institutions became increasingly important in determining their trajectories. Avenues for future research are also laid out.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=14828

Bibliographic Reference

Jedwab, R, Johnson, N and Koyama, M. 2020. 'Medieval Cities Through the Lens of Urban Economic Theories'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=14828