Economics Research Seminar – Dr Harry Pickard
Date: Wednesday 5 March 2025 | Time: 13:30 to 14:30
Location: Newcastle University Business School (NUBS), Room 4.23
The Economics research group welcomes Dr Harry Pickard.
He will present his work, entitled "Institutional Origins and the Balance of Power: Long-run Effects of the Danelaw Boundary on English State Formation."
About the speaker
Dr Harry Pickard is a researcher specialising in economic history, institutional development, and political economy. His work focuses on how historical events shape modern economic and governance structures.
Research abstract
Successful institutions require a capable state balanced by an active society. How can such a balance be achieved? We argue that differential institutional and cultural histories can lead to regions in a country having divergent preferences for the strength of the state or society.
We investigate how Anglo-Saxon and Viking pasts shaped medieval England. Following a peace treaty in 886, the Danelaw boundary specified a zone where Viking laws were followed for approximately 200 years. Using a regression discontinuity design around this boundary, we examine its long-term effects.
Our findings show that in the Domesday Book (1066-86), manors on the Anglo-Saxon side of the boundary reported higher taxable income, indicating greater state capacity. Meanwhile, Viking-influenced areas had fewer slaves and more freemen, suggesting a stronger society with different governance structures.
These differences influenced English institutional development. Barons on the Viking side of the Danelaw boundary were more likely to rebel against King John before the signing of the Magna Carta, highlighting regional variations in attitudes toward authority and governance.
This study sheds light on the historical roots of state-society relationships and their implications for long-term institutional development.