Tall But Poor: Nutrition, Health, and Living Standards in Pre-Famine Ireland

46 Pages Posted: 4 Jul 2004 Last revised: 10 Feb 2023

See all articles by S. Nicholas

S. Nicholas

Independent

Richard H. Steckel

Ohio State University (OSU) - Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: August 1992

Abstract

This paper uses height data recorded on Convict Indents to study temporal patterns and regional differences in living standards in pre-famine Ireland. The approach is explicitly comparative and makes use of information from America and other parts of Europe. The Irish attained roughly the 16th centile of modern height standards and, though smaller than contemporary North Americans, were among the tallest in Europe, including the wealthier English. We suggest that: a nutritious diet and epidemiological isolation were important factors in the high nutritional living standards of the Irish.

Suggested Citation

Nicholas, S. and Steckel, Richard H., Tall But Poor: Nutrition, Health, and Living Standards in Pre-Famine Ireland (August 1992). NBER Working Paper No. h0039, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=377942

S. Nicholas

Independent

Richard H. Steckel (Contact Author)

Ohio State University (OSU) - Economics ( email )

1945 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43210-1172
United States
614-292-5008 (Phone)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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

Paper statistics

Downloads
86
Abstract Views
1,377
Rank
527,705
PlumX Metrics