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  • © 2022

Pandemics, Economics and Inequality

Lessons from the Spanish Flu

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Explains the effects of the Spanish Flu on the economy
  • Analyses how inequality may be affected by pandemics
  • Offers the first comprehensive and data-driven view of the effects of the Spanish Flu

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Economic History (PEHS)

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Table of contents (6 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Introduction

    • Sergi Basco, Jordi Domènech, Joan R. Rosés
    Pages 1-16
  3. The Spanish Flu: A Global Shock

    • Sergi Basco, Jordi Domènech, Joan R. Rosés
    Pages 17-32
  4. Unequal Mortality During the Spanish Flu

    • Sergi Basco, Jordi Domènech, Joan R. Rosés
    Pages 33-50
  5. The Spanish Flu and the Labour Market

    • Sergi Basco, Jordi Domènech, Joan R. Rosés
    Pages 51-64
  6. The Spanish Flu and the Capital Market

    • Sergi Basco, Jordi Domènech, Joan R. Rosés
    Pages 65-81
  7. Taking Stock: The Aggregate Effects of the Spanish Flu

    • Sergi Basco, Jordi Domènech, Joan R. Rosés
    Pages 83-103
  8. Back Matter

    Pages 105-125

About this book

This Pivot book provides a framework for understanding the economic and potentially unequal effects of pandemics, focusing closely on the Spanish Flu. It provides an in-depth analysis of the different effects of the Spanish Flu on the economy from unequal mortality to wages, housing and output. There is a general review of the literature but an important feature of this book is that it explains results using data from Spain, an ideal country to perform this exercise, as its mortality data is not affected by the First World War. Spain was also developed enough to have reliable data, but it was very heterogeneous across regions which will allow a comparison of more and less developed regions. No other book exists that offers a comprehensive and data-driven view of the effects of the Spanish Flu, which is the closest pandemic example to Covid-19.  With the outbreak of Covid-19 increasing the need to learn about the economic effects of pandemics, this book will be of interest to academics and students of economic history, macroeconomics (economic crises) and economic development, as well being accessible for the general reader.


Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Economics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Sergi Basco

  • Department of Social Sciences, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Getafe (Madrid), Spain

    Jordi Domènech

  • Department of Economic History, London School of Economics, London, UK

    Joan R. Rosés

About the authors

Sergi Basco is Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Barcelona, Spain.

Jordi Domènech is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain.

Joan R. Rosés is Professor in the Department of Economic History at London School of Economics, UK.


Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access