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Ideas, Interests, and Politics in the Case of Belgian Corn Law Repeal, 1834–1873

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2011

Maarten Van Dijck  and
Tom Truyts
Maarten Van Dijck*
Affiliation:
Postdoctoral Researcher, KADOC, University of Leuven, Vlamingenstraat 39, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; and Guest Lecturer, Economics Department, University of Hasselt, Campus Diepenbeek Agoralaan – Gebouw D, BE-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. E-mail: maarten.vandijck@kadoc.kuleuven.be.
Tom Truyts*
Affiliation:
Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Economic Studies, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; and CORE, Université Catholique de Louvain, Voie du Roman Pays 34, BE-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. E-mail: tom.truyts@econ.kuleuven.be.
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Abstract

Economic interests, ideas, and politics have been put forward as explanations for the Repeal of the British Corn Laws. This article evaluates these competing explanations using the case of the Belgian Corn Laws between 1834 and 1873. A detailed quantitative analysis assesses the success of party affiliation and personal and constituency economic interests in predicting representatives' voting behavior. These factors prove to be insufficient to explain the shift towards free trade. This article then moves on to a qualitative analysis, which points to the importance of political strategy and ideas in the liberalization of corn tariffs.

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ARTICLES
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The Journal of Economic History , Volume 71 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 185 - 210
Copyright
Copyright © The Economic History Association 2011

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