PhD defence: Jan Erik Meidell

PhD Defense

26 May 2016 14:26

(updated: 26 May 2016 14:29)

PhD defence: Jan Erik Meidell

On Thursday 9 June 2016 Jan Erik Meidell will hold a trial lecture on a prescribed topic and defend his thesis for the PhD degree at NHH.

Prescribed topic for the trial lecture

Theories of economic growth and structural change with a particular reference to the Industrial Revolution

Trial lecture

10:15 in Jebsen Centre NHH

Title of the thesis

Occupational structure in England and Wales during the industrial revolution

Summary

The “industrial revolution” designates a process starting in the mid- eighteenth century, during which England and Wales experienced significant transitions in manufacturing and manufacturing processes and strong economic growth. Helped by a number of new technical inventions – in addition to strong population growth, favorable conditions for commerce, government policies and financial innovations – efficiency in the textile and iron industries increased manifold. Manufacturing moved away from handmade goods and cottage industries into mass production, helping Britain to become a world power. Urbanization changed the face of the country and improvements in agriculture allowed to the growing population to be supplied with food. The industrial revolution has thus had a major historical impact and is seen as crossing a threshold into modern economic growth. It has changed our lives, life expectancy, employment and how we look upon the world. The three chapters of this thesis attempt to better measure the occupational changes in the English and Welsh population during this period – one of the key characteristics of the industrial revolution.

Defence

12:15 in Jebsen Centre, NHH

Members of the evaluation committee

Professor Bjørn Basberg (chair), Department of Economics, NHH

Professor Jane Humphries, University of Oxford

Professor James Foreman-Peck, Cardiff University

Supervisor

Professor Liam Brunt, Department of Economics, NHH

The trial lecture and thesis defence will be open to the public. Copies of the thesis will be available from presse@nhh.no.

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