Population dynamics, Malthusian crises and Boserupian innovation in pre-industrial societies: the case study of northern Italy (ca. 1450-1800) in the light of Lee's "dynamic synthesis"

This article makes use of Lee’s ‘dynamic synthesis’, which aims to combine the views of Malthus and Boserup, to provide a new interpretation of population dynamics in North Italy from about 1450 to 1800. The article analyzes Lee’s theory and suggests that, even if it is difficult to test, the theory is useful both from the point of view of population theory and from that of interpretation of historical cases. Applying it to the Italian case, the article provides a new interpretation of the path that finally led the Italian population to escape long term limits to demographic growth.