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Global Economic History

Global Economic History

What factors explain the rise and fall of economies over time?

Our Global Economic History research programme uses data across countries to study long run growth patterns. It covers two key areas of focus:

  • The evolution of colonial economies using company-level records to shed new light on the economics and consequences of the imperial period.
  • A new data digitisation initiative focused on the UK economy from the late 19th century until the start of electronic records in the 1980s.

Project Contacts:

Bishnupriya Gupta

Professor of Economics, University of Warwick

Stephen Broadberry

Professor of Economic History, Nuffield College, Oxford

James Fenske

Professor of Economics, University of Warwick

Featured Projects

Economic History podcast

Why the West got rich? Interviews with expert guests on the making of the modern world.

Economics explainer videosLink opens in a new window

Video resources which relate historical data to present day global politics.

Nicholas Crafts lectures

Series of annual lectures for economic historians which examine key research topics.

Economic History database

Historical data sets and visualisations from Asia, Africa and Europe.

Project News

New podcast: economic lessons from history

The CAGE Research Centre has launched a new economics podcast on the making of the modern world which looks to the past to help inform the decisions we make ...

Monday 18 May 2026

School students discover what it takes to become an economist

"Being an economist isn't about being a single thing. A good economist is ready for anything and can absorb anything." Mirko Draca, CAGE Centre Director

Monday 23 Mar 2026

The Economics of Education : 2026 Crafts Lecture and Workshop

Over 50 national and international delegates attended the Crafts lecture and workshop on the economics of education and the role of institutions organised by...

Thursday 5 Mar 2026

Economic Warfare and Sanctions Since 1688

How have economic warfare and sanctions been applied in modern history? Under what conditions did they work?

Tuesday 6 Jan 2026

Research Highlights

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