A 1993 paper by J. Bradford de Long and Andrei Shleifer explored the relationship between political institutions and economic growth in pre-industrial Europe. The study used urban population growth as a proxy for economic development between 1050 and 1800. Their findings indicated a strong correlation, suggesting that freer societies with secure property rights experienced significantly faster urban and economic expansion compared to those under absolutist rule. The paper acknowledges data limitations for the pre-industrial era but asserts that the observed effect size is robust. AI
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RANK_REASON This is a summary of a historical academic paper, not a new model release or significant industry event.
