Total Factor Productivity in the English Shipping Industry: The North-east Coal Trade, 1700-1850.

The article discusses the nature of productivity change in the English shipping industry during the period of industrialization, by focusing upon the coal trade between the north-east coast and London. The coal trade employed a greater volume of English shipping than any other trade. Frequently, the tonnage of coal shipped from the north-east ports exceeded the total volume of English imports. Significantly, London received more coal than any other port in the world. The importance of the coal trade also lies in the substantial amount of labour and capital which it employed. Over 3 million pounds of capital was invested in the coal trade on the eve of the French Wars by mine owners, shipowners and merchants and in 1830 it was estimated that 45,000 people were employed in the coal trade. The coal trade was also fundamental to the economic development of London and the north-east. Various other factors serve to illustrate the importance of the coal trade to English development including its contribution to government revenue, technological progress and national warfare.