Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Scientometric evidence for the existence of long economic growth cycles in Europe 1500–1900

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In times of economic stagnation, the debate about “long waves” of economic growth typically refreshes. This has also been the case in the period of the world-wide economic stagnation since 1970. But the results concerning the existence of long-term cycles of economic activity are still controversial. In this contribution, the “ups and downs in the pulse of science and technology” (Price) are related to economic growth cycles. It turns out that Schumpeter's contention of an inverse relationship between the level of scientific and technological activity on the one side and economic growth on the other side is correct for 1500 to 1900. Thereby also an indirect proof is furnished for the existence of long economic growth cycles in the last centuries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. N. D. Kondratieff, Die langen Wellen der Konjunktur,Archiv für Sozialwissenschaft und Sozialpolitik, 56 (1926) 573–609.

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. Reijnders,Long Waves in Economic Development, Elgar, Aldershot, Brookfield, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  3. B. J. L. Berry,Long-wave Rhythms in Economic Development and Political Behavior, John Hopkins Univ. Pr., Baltimore, London, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  4. G. Mensch,Das technologische Patt. Innovationen überwinden die Depression, Umschau-Verl., Frankfurt a.M., 1975.—Engl. ed.: Stalemate in Technology. Ballinger, Cambridge, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. S. Goldstein,Long Cycles. Prosperity and War in the Modern Age, Yale Univ. Pr., New Haven, London, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  6. J. van Duijn,The Long Wave in Economic Life, Allen and Unwin, London, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  7. K. Pavitt, Uses and abuses of patent statistics. In:A. F. J. van Raan (Ed.),Handbook of Quantitative Studies of Science and Technology, North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1988, pp. 509–536.

    Google Scholar 

  8. P. A. Sorokin,Social and Cultural Dynamics, Vol. 2, Bedminster Pr., New York, 1937, Repr. 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  9. D. de Solla Price, Ups and downs in the pulse of science and technology,Sociological Inquiry, 48 (1978) 162–171.

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. Wagner-Döbler,Wachstumszyklen technisch-wissenschaftlicher Kreativität. Eine quantitative Studie unter besonderer Beachtung der Mathematik, Campus-Verl., Frankfurt/M., New York, 1997 (in press).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Philosophie, Technische Universität München, Lothstr. 17, D-80335, München, (Germany)

    R. Wagner-Döbler

Authors
  1. R. Wagner-Döbler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wagner-Döbler, R. Scientometric evidence for the existence of long economic growth cycles in Europe 1500–1900. Scientometrics 41, 201–208 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02457978

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02457978

Keywords

Search

Navigation