I am writing to invite you to submit a paper proposal or to express your interest in attending the first annual conference of the Economic History Research Training Network, on the theme "Europe's Growth and Development Experience", which will take place at the University of Warwick, 28-30 October 2005. The event will be organized by Stephen Broadberry (University of Warwick and CEPR) and Kevin O'Rourke (Trinity College, Dublin and CEPR).

The network will contribute to the development of a truly European economic history profession, by analysing the economic development of Europe as a whole. The network will collect pan-European data for two time-scales, the long run (i.e. the past 150 years), and the very long run (i.e. the past 1000 years). It will use up-to-date economic techniques, both theoretical and econometric, to analyse these data and provide accounts of European growth, European economic integration, and the changing nature of Europe's economic relationships with the rest of the world, in the long run and very long run.

We would like to encourage submissions on the following five research themes:

Theme 1. A pan-European database
One aim of the network is to create an internet based database for Europe as a whole, incorporating the latest national data. From the mid-nineteenth century onward, the database will include information on variables such as real output, population, the capital stock education enrolments, international trade and government revenues and expenditure. Information for some variables will be presented at a disaggregate as well as an aggregate level (e.g. output broken down by major sector). For the longer period reaching back to the Middle Ages, the database will include information on a more limited range of variables, such as wages and prices, urbanization, population, foreign trade, and government revenues and expenditure. Papers are sought on recent new sources of national data and on methodological issues concerning standardisation and aggregation across countries.

Theme 2. European growth from the mid-nineteenth century
A central theme of the network is the analysis of growth since the mid-nineteenth century using both growth accounting and econometric modelling. Papers are sought on both the aggregate European experience and on comparative experience within Europe. As well as papers on aggregate growth, papers which examine particular sectors such as agriculture, industry and services, will also be welcomed.

Theme 3. European growth in the very long run
Another important network theme is European growth in the very long run, particularly in the light of recent debates concerning when north-west European living standards pulled ahead of those in the rest of the world, and the convergence and divergence of living standards within Europe over time. Papers which engage with recent theoretical developments on modelling long run development, or with the game theoretic approach to institutions, or with the recent econometric literature on institutions, will be particularly welcome.

Theme 4. The history of European integration
One of the most pressing issues in the development of a pan-European history is the question of the gradual integration of the European economy: when did it start to make sense to speak of a European economy, rather than a series of national, or even regional economies? The answer may vary depending on the type of economic activity being considered, since trade for certain goods developed much earlier and more fully than for others. The timing of integration may also depend on whether commodity trade or the movement of factors of production is being considered, with commodity markets integrating more easily than labour markets, for example. Papers on integration of product and factor markets are envisaged. In addition, papers on the dynamics of integration and disintegration, and the importance of institutions will be particularly welcomed.

Theme 5. Europe's changing position in the world
Another important network theme is Europe's position within, and relationships with, the rest of the world. Several world historians have recently argued that living standards in China and India were on a par with European living standards until comparatively recently, say the middle of the eighteenth century. This claim is, however, disputed by other quantitative historians who argue that the Great Divergence between Europe and the rest of the world occurred much earlier. Both quantitative and qualitative papers are sought, which can shed light on this debate.

Papers will be selected by a Scientific Committee that includes, in addition to the organizers, Giovanni Federico (European University Institute) and Piotr Franaszek (Jagiellonian University Cracow).

Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered for all members of the Economic History Research Training Network and all researchers on the programme, according to the usual CEPR travel guidelines (attached). However, if you could contribute to the costs of your attendance from a research grant at your disposal this would free up space for someone else. Please indicate on your reply whether you will be able to cover your own travel costs, or whether you will require funding from CEPR. Note that it will not be possible to accept all applications to attend this conference and that EC RTN regulations imply that we have only a very limited ability to fund non-European based participants. I would thus like you to confirm your interest in attending the meeting at this stage.

Leaders of RTN teams should forward this message to others at their institution working on this project, and particularly young researchers employed by the network.

To respond, please contact Sarah Doberska, Meetings Assistant, at sdoberska@cepr.org or +44 20 7878 2908 and indicate whether or not you wish to present a paper or would be willing to act as a discussant. The deadline for replies is 18:00 GMT, 15 July 2005.

The Scientific Committee

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