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Jonas Ljungberg. Photo.

Jonas Ljungberg

Professor emeritus

Jonas Ljungberg. Photo.

European consumer price indices since 1870

Europeiska konsumentprisindex sedan 1870

Author

  • Jonas Ljungberg

Summary, in English

This article presents a database with the probably most up-to-date and reliable consumer price indices for a large sample of European countries since 1870. The database is a compilation but a contribution by going back to original or ignored works. For some countries, where CPIs have been missing, new provisional indices are constructed, and some are reconstructed for critical periods. The article critically examines historical CPIs in oft-used online databases and uncover some alarming inaccuracies and even fallacies. Despite the importance of accurate CPIs in long-term analyses, previously little effort has been put in assessing the quality and comparability of data between countries. Realism of the CPIs is examined within a framework of economic integration that qualifies received views. Lack of integration of Mediterranean countries before mid-20th century is validated, and contradictory patterns of integration in interwar and postwar Europe uncovered.

Department/s

  • Department of Economic History
  • Growth, technological change, and inequality
  • Financial history, banking and insurance

Publishing year

2024-04-02

Language

English

Publication/Series

Cliometrica

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Economic History

Keywords

  • Consumer price indices
  • Cost of living
  • Source criticism
  • Economic integration
  • E31
  • N13
  • N14

Status

Epub

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1863-2513