Cliometrics of the Family

This volume applies quantitative economic analysis to historical family structures, examining how household decisions about fertility, education, and labor participation have shaped economic development across societies. Through cliometric methods—the systematic use of mathematical modeling and statistical analysis to study history—the contributors trace global patterns in family organization and their profound societal consequences. The research pays particular attention to how these domestic arrangements have influenced women's economic positions and opportunities throughout different historical periods, connecting private household choices to broader economic transformations.

What distinguishes this work is its rigorous interdisciplinary approach, merging demographic history with economic theory to reveal how seemingly personal family decisions create measurable macroeconomic effects. Scholars and advanced students in economic history will find the data-driven insights invaluable, especially those researching the long-term relationship between household structures and development outcomes. The collection demonstrates that understanding economic progress requires examining the fundamental unit where human capital is formed and allocated—making it essential reading for anyone studying the historical foundations of modern economies.