#Econhist papers I (mostly) admire, June 2024

On stories, steam power, chimney smoke, suffrage, text sources and much more...

Every month I handpick and review ten standout papers in economic history. This month, I’ve added a complementary ChatGPT-generated epigram! As a paid member, you’ll unlock exclusive access to the complete, curated list.

1. Stories, Statistics, and Memory

By Thomas Graeber, Christopher Roth and Florian Zimmermann

Research Question: This paper explores how different types of information, specifically stories versus statistics, influence selective memory and belief formation. It investigates whether people are more likely to remember and be influenced by qualitative information (stories) compared to quantitative data (statistics).

Main Results: The study found that the impact of statistics on beliefs fades by 73% over the course of a day, whereas the impact of stories fades by only 32%. The research demonstrates that stories are more likely to be recalled accurately than statistics, due to the qualitative content of stories being more relatable and easier to remember. The findings suggest that the qualitative features of stories drive the difference in memory retention, making stories a more effective tool for shaping long-term beliefs.

Stories linger, numbers fade; memory’s tale is more vividly laid.

2. Imagine Your Life at 25: Gender Conformity and Later-Life Outcomes

By Sreevidya Ayyar, Uta Bolt, Eric French and Cormac O’Dea

Research Question: The paper examines how gender conformity, as expressed in childhood aspirations, affects later-life outcomes, particularly focusing on lifetime earnings and occupational choices. It explores whether adherence to traditional gender norms in early life influences educational attainment, career choices, and family formation.

Main Results: The study finds that girls whose essays conformed more strongly to traditional gender norms had 3.5% lower lifetime earnings, with this effect mediated through lower educational attainment, earlier family formation, and selection into lower-paid occupations. Gender conformity is significantly linked to reduced educational attainment, with a one standard deviation increase in the conformity index associated with a 1.6 percentage point increase in the high school dropout rate and a 1.1 percentage point decrease in university attendance. Additionally, girls exhibiting stronger gender conformity were more likely to marry and have children earlier, affecting their career progression and earnings potential.

Bound by norms from youth, dreams constricted tight; life’s earnings dimmed, by roles of gendered light.