Research
When Did Growth Begin? New Estimates of Productivity Growth in England from 1250 to 1870
Paul Bouscasse, Emi Nakamura, and Jón Steinsson
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 140(2), 835-888, May 2025
Productivity growth began in England in 1600, well before the Glorious Revolution. This suggests growth may have contributed to causing 17th century liberal reforms in England
The Gift of Moving: Intergenerational Consequences of a Mobility Shock
Emi Nakamura, Jósef Sigurdsson, and Jón Steinsson
Review of Economic Studies, 89(3), 1557-1592, May 2022.
An volcanic eruption caused a third of the houses in a town to be covered by lava. People living in these houses were much more likely to move away permanently. For the children living in these houses, we estimate that being induced to move by this “lava shock” dramatically raised lifetime earnings and education.
Are Chinese Growth and Inflation Too Smooth? Evidence from Engel Curves
Emi Nakamura, Jón Steinsson, and Miao Liu
American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 8(3), 113-144, July 2016.
Chinese growth was higher than official estimates suggest in the 1990s, but lower in the 2000s. These conclusions are based on shifting expenditure patterns of Chinese consumers.