My First Publication!!!

Just got word today that one of the articles I was working on was accepted by a peer-reviewed journal. It is my first publication and I hope one of many. The journal is Cliometrica.




Cliometrica provides a leading forum for exchange of ideas and research in all facets, in all historical periods and in all geographical locations of historical economics. The journal encourages the methodological debate, the use of economic theory in general and model building in particular, the reliance upon quantification to buttress the models with historical data, the use of the more standard historical knowledge to broaden the understanding and suggesting new avenues of research, and the use of statistical theory and econometrics to combine models with data in a single consistent explanation. The highest standards of quality are promoted. All articles will be subject to Cliometrica's peer review process. On occasion, specialised topics may be presented in a special issue.

The title of the article is "Convergence (and Divergence) of the Biological Standard of Living in the United States , 1820-1900" and is coauthored with Areendam Chanda (LSU) and Lee Craig (NCSU and my Dissertation Chair).

Abstract:

Standard economic indicators suggest that the United States experienced long-run economic growth throughout the nineteenth century. However, biological indicators, including human stature, offer a different picture, rising early in the century, falling (on average) mid-century, and rising again at the end of the century. This pattern varied across geographical regions. Using a unique data set, consisting of mean adult stature by state, we test for convergence in stature among states in the nineteenth century. We find that during the period of declining mean stature, heights actually diverged. Later in the century we find a unique type of convergence indicating that stature among states tended to converge to a new, lower steady state. Only towards the end of the century do we find classic convergence behavior. We argue that the diversity of economic experiences across regions, e.g. urbanization, industrialization, and transportation improvements, explain this pattern of divergence and then convergence.



I pushed for the title, "Convergence of the Other White Meat", but it didn't fly.

One down, many to go!