Origins of Political Change. Structural vs. Exogenous Factors as Cause of the Late Medieval Guild Revolts

72 Pages Posted: 22 Jul 2015 Last revised: 8 Oct 2016

See all articles by Fabian Wahl

Fabian Wahl

University of Hohenheim - Department of Economics

Date Written: October 6, 2016

Abstract

This study investigates the origins of guild revolts and participation in the government of late medieval central European cities. It finds that primarily structural factors and not so much exogenous factors (like the agricultural crisis or historical accidents), i.e. the prosperity of proto-industry and triggered the revolts. Medieval trade cities had a lower probability of guild participation indicating that not economic prosperity per se is decisive but rather that formerly poor groups of citizens like craftsmen profited from the economic upswing. The study also finds evidence for the existence of spatial spillovers implying that strategic considerations played a role in the spread of the revolts.

Keywords: Late Medieval, Early-Modern Period, Political Institutions, Political Change, Guild Revolts, Cities

JEL Classification: N44, N94, O10, R11, H11, D72

Suggested Citation

Wahl, Fabian, Origins of Political Change. Structural vs. Exogenous Factors as Cause of the Late Medieval Guild Revolts (October 6, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2633496 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2633496

Fabian Wahl (Contact Author)

University of Hohenheim - Department of Economics ( email )

Wollgrasweg 49
Stuttgart, 70599
Germany
+49711-45924405 (Phone)

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