That picture of the filth is accurate enough, but the unchecked pollution had a bigger negative economic impact than many realize, according to a new study from the U.K.’s National Bureau of Economic Research. Instead of being a necessary byproduct of wealth creation in the industrial era, that pollution actually stood in the way of economic development.
Heavy pollution caused by unregulated, inefficient coal burning probably hindered the growth of the most polluted cities, slowing down the pace of urban development as poor air quality both discouraged people from settling in cities and reduced productivity among ailing workers. Even more than a century later, where the Victorian factory town still forms a template for urbanism in new industrial superpowers like China and India, this is highly significant. [...]
Given that the way we imagine rapid development today still derives largely from the great industrial shocks of the Victorian era, the observations are significant. Consuming fuel may remain an integral part of heavy industrial production, but manufacturing might just work better and develop faster with cleaner, healthier conditions. There may be money in muck, but it seems that cleaning up after yourself may have always been the more profitable option.
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