On the Biological Standard of Living of Eighteenth-Century Americans: Taller, Richer, Healthier

Komlos, John (July 2003): On the Biological Standard of Living of Eighteenth-Century Americans: Taller, Richer, Healthier. Discussion Papers in Economics 2003-9

Abstract

This study analyses the physical stature of runaway apprentices and military deserters based on advertisements collected from 18th-century newspapers, in order to explore the biological welfare of colonial and early-national Americans. The results indicate that heights declined somewhat at mid-century, but increased substantially thereafter. The findings are generally in keeping with trends in mortality and in economic activity. The Americans were much taller than Europeans: by the 1780s adults were as much as 6.6 cm taller than Englishmen, and at age 16 American apprentices were some 12 cm taller than the poor children of London.

• Item Type: Paper
• Keywords: Anthropometrics, Living Standards, 18th century, colonial US
• Faculties: Economics; Economics > Munich Discussion Papers in Economics; Economics > Munich Discussion Papers in Economics > Economic History; Economics > Chairs > Chair of Economic History
• Subjects: 300 Social sciences > 300 Social sciences, sociology and anthropology; 300 Social sciences > 330 Economics
• JEL Classification: N11, I31, I12, N31
• Language: English