Land and credit as driving forces

Recently, Nicolas De Vijlder earned his doctorate in History and Business Economics at Ghent University. His dissertation delves into the structural significance of capital in the development of the Southern Low Countries between 1400 and 1900.

Emphasizing the role of land and credit as dominant productive factors, the author explores how the exchange of these forms of capital profoundly influenced society. Market transactions of land and credit were examined in both urban and rural settings, utilizing detailed case studies and macro-analyses. The research highlights the commercialization of the countryside, the growing interconnection between city and rural areas, and the long-term effects of market activities on socio-economic relationships. This study also demonstrates the feasibility and relevance of applying quantitative and econometric research methods to historical issues.

Nicolas De Vijlder based his research in part on datasets from LOKSTAT and POPPKAD, including outcomes from trade and industry censuses.

Publication:

Nicolas De Vijlder, Essays on Land and Credit Markets: The Southern Low Countries 1500-1900. Ghent, PhD Dissertation, 2023.