Human Capital and the Growth of the Roman Economy

14 Pages Posted: 30 Jun 2009

Date Written: June 2008

Abstract

Over the past 50 years economists have increasingly emphasized investment in human capital as a fundamental cause of sustained economic growth, because investments in education, training and health make the labor force more productive. This paper examines Roman education and training, and argues that Roman investment in human capital was higher in the early empire that at any time in Europe before 1500 CE, but noticeably lower than in the fastest growing economies of the early modern era (e.g., the Netherlands).

Suggested Citation

Saller, Richard, Human Capital and the Growth of the Roman Economy (June 2008). Princeton/Stanford Working Papers, Classics Paper No. 060809, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1427350 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1427350

Richard Saller (Contact Author)

Stanford University ( email )

Stanford, CA 94305
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
198
Abstract Views
1,341
Rank
277,211
PlumX Metrics