Productivity, Mortality, and Technology in European and US Coal Mining, 1800–1913

European coal production underwent a period of dramatic increase from the early nineteenth century to 1913. A consensus exists, however, for depiction industry as, high degree, technologically stagnant throughout long century. Macro-inventions, or general-purpose technologies, in fact, appeared at either end period. Steam power drive water pumps and shaft elevators was introduced eighteenth century, while application mechanical different tasks electrification mines were advances that became pervasive twentieth In interregnum, therefore, would have mainly been result adding more labor rather than developing new technology. This paper aims revise this interpretation. First, long-term series productivity fatality rates data are presented four main coal-producing nations, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany. Second, link between improvements Europe both safety conjunction with “small-scale” technological innovations is proposed. These which emerged diffused affect aspects mining production, did not involve huge investments labor-replacing capital. They were, most part, complementary closely related questions safety. comparison estimates, safety, countries also established those United States, latecomer exploitation resources.