Journal of Economic Perspectives
ISSN 0895-3309 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7965 (Online)
The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 24,
no. 2, Spring 2010
(pp. 163–88)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the long-term impacts of the Columbian Exchange -- that is, the exchange of diseases, ideas, food crops, technologies, populations, and cultures between the New World and the Old World after Christopher Columbus' voyage to the Americas in 1492. We focus on the aspects of the exchange that have been most neglected by economic studies; namely the transfer of diseases, food crops, and knowledge between the two Worlds. We pay particular attention to the effects of the exchange on the Old World.Citation
Nunn, Nathan, and Nancy Qian. 2010. "The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas." Journal of Economic Perspectives 24 (2): 163–88. DOI: 10.1257/jep.24.2.163JEL Classification
- N33 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Religion: Europe: Pre-1913
- N36 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Religion: Latin America; Caribbean
- N43 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Europe: Pre-1913
- N46 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Latin America; Caribbean
- N53 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: Europe: Pre-1913
- N56 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: Latin America; Caribbean