Technical change, non-tariff barriers, and the development of the Italian locomotive industry, 1850–1913

摘要

The locomotive industry was one of the relatively sophisticated “high tech”udsectors in which Italy, a late industrializer, was successful before 1913. Usingudtechnical data on the performance of different vintages of locomotives, weudconstruct a new industry-level index of technical change. We also study theudimpact of different policy instruments (import duties, non-tariff trade barriers,udand other discretionary interventions) in shaping the development of the industry.udOur reassessment reveals not only the sound technological performance of Italianudlocomotives and successful industry growth, but also the critical role played byudnon-tariff barriers for the development of the industry.