Height cycles in the 18th and 19th centuries

Spectral analysis of the physical stature of Americans and Europeans in the 18th and 19th centuries reveals a cyclical structure similar to the traditional view of the business cycle: a longer cycle with a length of 7-10 years, and a shorter cycle with a length of 3-5 years. The correlation between height cycles and cycles of economic variables such as grain prices indicates an influence of economic cycles on physical stature. The phase shift between the cycles indicates that economic conditions are especially important for growth in infancy. In part, this result is due to a cumulative effect: born into a recessionary period, a child is likely to face several cyclical downturns during the growing years.     

Escaping the Crisis. Friulan Mountains 18th–19th Century

As for most of the mountainous areas even the Friulan Mountains between the 18th and the 19th century proved to be extremely deficient of consumer goods produce. To provide for the subsistence of the population it was therefore necessary to import great amounts of alimentary goods, cereals in particular. This paper will show how the agricultural prices influenced the mountainous areas; considerations will be made on the behaviour adopted by the populations of the valleys to counteract the negative impact brought about by the prices increases. A final look will outline the consequences of such behaviours at a demographic level. To this aim, after drawing a general picture of the mountain economy, an attempt will be made at quantifying the demand of the consumer goods. The system for cereals provision will be retraced and the relations between cereal prices and demongraphic variables will be evaluated.