Why Europe? the great divergence and the West’s rise to global predominance Philip T. Hoffman

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hoffman, Philip T., 1947- author.

Series:

New approaches to economic and social history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Economic history.

Economic development.

Industrial revolution.

Europe.

Great Britain.

Genre:

History

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2026

Summary:

"Economic growth transformed the world. It freed us from a world where nearly everyone was mired in poverty and half of all children died before reaching adulthood. However, these benefits have not been felt everywhere, nor by everyone. In this groundbreaking new account of the divergence between east and west, Philip T. Hoffman uncovers the ultimate causes of economic growth and the reasons why it originated in seventeenth-century western Europe. He examines the relative impacts of a wide range of economic, political, and social factors, from high wages, cheap capital, and financial institutions to political fragmentation, porous borders, and interstate warfare. Through accessible economic principles and fascinating case studies, he demonstrates why growth began in Britain, why it spread so unevenly elsewhere, and why inequality inhibits growth"-- Cambridge Core

Contents:

Europe’s advantages : demography, agriculture, and the environment

War, conquest, and politics in Europe’s rise

Ideas, beliefs, and culture

Why Britain was the first country in Europe to industrialize

Institutions and Britain’s pioneering industrialization

Why some economies grew rich and others fell behind

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed June 29, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Hoffman, Philip T., 1947- Why Europe?

ISBN:

9781139023283

1139023284

OCLC:

1569754591

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license