Economic History

"While many dictionaries of economics are available for purchase, this title is unique because of its greater depth of treatment. It offers histories and backgrounds on a significant number of economic topics, not only for the United States but also for other countries and geographic regions. Entries cover such topics as economic concepts; markets and industries; economic development in various countries; biographical essays on key people in economics and business; business products, including coffee, gas, and oil; and the economic aspects of historical events and time periods, including the Great Depression."--"The Top 20 Reference Titles of the Year," American Libraries, May 2004.

What were the economic roots of modern industrialism? Were labor unions ever effective in raising workers' living standards? Did high levels of taxation in the past normally lead to economic decline? These and similar questions profoundly inform a wide range of intertwined social issues whose complexity, scope, and depth become fully evident in the Encyclopedia.
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the field, the Encyclopedia is divided not only by chronological and geographic boundaries, but also by related subfields such as agricultural history, demographic history, business history, and the histories of technology, migration, and transportation. The articles, all written and signed by international contributors, include scholars from Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Covering economic history in all areas of the world and segments of ecnomies from prehistoric times to the present, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History is the ideal resource for students, economists, and general readers, offering a unique glimpse into this integral part of world history.

Library Journal

This five-volume set comprises 875 signed, alphabetically arranged articles by some 800 academic contributors. As stated by editor Mokyr (economics & history, Northwestern Univ.), an attempt has been made to take a global view, but "it is inevitable that the economic history of the `West' is over-represented." The set contains articles on such expected topics as banking, capitalism, and financial panics; commodities such as cocoa, coffee, and tea; and industries such as automobiles, leather, and steelmaking. Most major countries and three dozen cities receive articles, and there are some 125 biographies of inventors, business leaders, and economists. Comparative coverage is surprising in some cases. The article "Music Industry" receives over six and a half pages, whereas "Mutual Funds" receives only a page and a half. "Stock Markets" comprises just over four pages, but coverage of Sudan encompasses nine and a half pages. There is no article or even an index entry for econometrics. Bibliographies at the end of articles usually contain a dozen or more fairly recent references but in at least one case does not list a work's most recent edition. Supplementing the bibliographies is a topical listing of almost 1000 Internet sites. An extensive index (approximately 28,000 entries in 181 pages) makes fairly esoteric subjects accessible. For instance, a search for Titusville, PA (site of the first U.S. oil well), brings up four references to it in the article "Oil Industry." A topical outline groups articles by geography, industry, biography, and several other useful headings. The set's scholarly articles are well written in an academic style. Because of its price, focus, and noted flaws, however, the set would be a useful purchase only for larger academic libraries. A less expensive alternative is the two-volume Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, which covers just the United States for a high school and lower undergraduate audience.-Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Northwestern University