%0 Report
        %A Almelhem, Ali
%A Iyigun, Murat
%A Kennedy, Austin
%A Rubin, Jared
        %T Enlightenment Ideals and Belief in Progress in the Run-up to the Industrial Revolution: A Textual Analysis
        %D 2023
        %8 2023 Dec
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 16674
        %U https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp16674
        %X Using textual analysis of 173,031 works printed in England between 1500 and 1900, we test whether British culture evolved to manifest a heightened belief in progress associated with science and industry. Our analysis yields three main findings. First, there was a separation in the language of science and religion beginning in the 17th century. Second, scientific volumes became more progress-oriented during the Enlightenment. Third, industrial works—especially those at the science-political economy nexus—were more progress-oriented beginning in the 17th century. It was therefore the more pragmatic, industrial works which reflected the cultural values cited as important for Britain's takeoff.
        %K language
%K religion
%K science
%K political economy
%K progressiveness
%K Enlightenment
%K industrial revolution