The Balkan Economies c.1800–1914
Evolution without Development

A definitive economic history of the Balkans, making extensive use of native-language primary sources, first published in 1997.

Michael R. Palairet (Author)

9780521522564, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 November 2003

432 pages, 5 b/w illus. 6 maps 46 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm, 0.63 kg

"...a controversial and immensely stimulating piece of scholarship." David F. Good, Journal of Modern History

The Balkan Economies c. 1800–1914 is a strongly revisionist 1997 book which compares the economic progress of Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia in the century before World War I. Michael Palairet draws heavily on native-language primary sources to argue that these territories probably experienced economic decline rather than growth, at least from the mid-nineteenth century. This comprehensive study of the economic evolution of the Balkans suggests that the Ottoman and Habsburg empires in providing a framework of order and property rights did more for agrarian and industrial development than succeeding regional and nationalist governments. Based on in-depth research, this book promises to be the definitive economic history of the Balkans.

List of Tables
Preface
Part I. The Balkan Economies during the Ottoman Period to 1878: 1. Balkan population 1790–1914
2. The Balkans under the Ottomans 1800–1860s: institutional change and economic progress
3. Agriculture and industry in Ottoman Bulgaria in the twilight of Ottoman rule
4. Serbia 1815–75: institutions, resources and market forces
5. Bosnia and Montenegro before 1878
6. The Ottoman Balkans and free Serbia: economic conditions and 'renascence'
Part II. Economic Decline and Political Freedom 1878–1914: 7. Bulgaria after 1878: origins of productive decline
8. Bosnia and Montenegro: political change and economic development 1878–1914
9. The Balkan textile industries 1878–1914: markets, technology, labour
10. Serbia and Bulgaria 1878–1914: modernization and productive decline
11. Economic change in Macedonia and Thrace 1878–1914
12. Summary and conclusions
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ]