... and this led to an increase in the real wage. In the second half, however, the growth rate increased, and was accompanied by a fall in the real wage rate. Aside from the effects of a decreased/increased supply of labour on the wage rate, an increased population also meant greater demand for food and other necessities. As expenditure on food consumed a large share of the poor's income, this increase caused a decrease in real wages, whilst a decrease was matched by an increase in real wages. To obtain an idea of whether population growth was a cause or effect of the industrial revolution, it might be wise to consider the possible causes of the increase experienced in the mid 18th century which would last for much of the 19th. The usual causes of a population change are migration, fertility and mortality. As there was net emigration in Britain for ...

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