Nationalizations and the Development of Transport Systems: Cross-Country Evidence from Railroad Networks, 1860-1912

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: University of California System; University of California Irvine
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC HISTORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-0507
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022050709000382
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 202-237
• 关键词: growth; state; WAR

摘要

Many states nationalized portions of their railroad network between 1860 and 1912. This article uses new cross-country data to examine which factors contributed to nationalizations and how nationalizations influenced network expansion. I find evidence that nationalizations were greater in countries with low constraints on the executive branch, with French and German civil law systems, and where neighboring countries had higher military capability. I also find evidence that nationalizations reduced mileage growth. The results suggest that external military threats increased the appeal of nationalizations, while legal and political institutions influenced their costs. They also suggest that nationalizations reduced investment incentives.