The Portuguese Agriculture, 1703-1820: Extensive Growth and Market Expansion.

Chapter in: Dulce Freire and Pedro Lains (eds), An Agrarian History of Portugal, 1000-2000: Economic Development on the European Frontier. Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2017 (e-book 2016), pp. 132-171

30 Pages Posted: 21 Apr 2017

See all articles by Jose Vicente Serrao

Jose Vicente Serrao

University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL)

Date Written: 2016

Abstract

The thesis sustained in this essay is that – while it is true that there were some crises, problems and blockages, and that development was by no means the same across all regions, sub-sectors and periods – Portuguese agriculture actually performed quite well in the 18th century, even when observed in a comparative European perspective. Extensive growth and an increasing market dependence were the two dominant aspects of that performance. These results can be explained, firstly, by a significant change in market conditions; secondly, by the ability of economic agents to adapt to new conditions; and thirdly by some effective economic policies. The market, the farmers and the government form the three sides of a triangle that proved to be reasonably virtuous for most of the period considered.

Keywords: Economic History, Early Modern History, Eighteenth Century History, Agriculture, Portugal (History)

JEL Classification: N00, N5, N53

Suggested Citation

Serrao, Jose Vicente, The Portuguese Agriculture, 1703-1820: Extensive Growth and Market Expansion. (2016). Chapter in: Dulce Freire and Pedro Lains (eds), An Agrarian History of Portugal, 1000-2000: Economic Development on the European Frontier. Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2017 (e-book 2016), pp. 132-171, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2944973

Jose Vicente Serrao (Contact Author)

University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) ( email )

Av Forcas Armadas
Lisbon, 1649-026
Portugal

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