The Hidden Cause of the Industrial Revolution (with Ben Southwood)

The Glorious Revolution of the late 17th century provided the institutional foundation for the Industrial Revolution by fundamentally reshaping property rights in England. By empowering Parliament, the revolution enabled a systematic, case-by-case untangling of complex land ownership, allowing for the consolidation of inefficient strip-farming into productive, enclosed fields. This legislative activity also facilitated the rapid expansion of essential infrastructure, including toll roads and canals, which dramatically reduced transportation costs and fostered a national market. These institutional reforms, rather than purely technological breakthroughs, were critical in enabling the scale and application of innovation. Ben Southwood, founding editor of *Works in Progress*, highlights how these historical mechanisms—such as graduated density zoning and land assembly districts—offer practical lessons for modern efforts to overcome physical development constraints and address current housing and infrastructure bottlenecks.