Regional industrialization in a comparative perspective

Over the past two centuries, regions in Europe and Asia have industrialized in very different ways. A recently published book highlights the similarities and differences in industrialization processes in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Yugoslavia, China and Japan. Attention is paid to, among other things, the consequences of industrial policy, agglomeration forces, globalization and the determinants of industrial location over time.

The book was edited by Bas van Leeuwen (IISH), Robin Philips (IISH and history alumnus of Ghent University) and Erik Buyst (KULeuven). It contains case studies and other contributions from an international team of researchers with the participation of Ghent University (Glenn Raypp and Stijn Ronsse, Department of Economics).

The research on Belgium is based on LOKSTAT data from the industry and population censuses, as well as contextual data on the development of the traffic infrastructure.

Book:

Van Leeuwen, Bas, Robin Philips and Erik Buyst eds. An Economic History of Regional Industrialization. New York/London: Routledge, 2020.

Abstract:

This book offers a comprehensive study of regional industrialization in Europe and Asia from the early nineteenth century to the present. Using case studies on regional industrialization, the book provides insights into similarities and differences in industrialization processes between European, Eurasian and Asian countries. Important factors include the transition from traditional to modern industrial production, industrial policy, agglomeration forces, market integration, and the determinants of industrial location over time. The book is an invaluable reference that attempts to bridge the fields of economic history, political history, economic geography, and economics while contributing to the debates on economic divergence between Europe and Asia as well as on the role of economic integration and globalization.