Patterns of energy transitions. The long-term role of energy in the economic growth of Europe

Debates and analyses on the role of energy consumption in economic growth and its environmental impact are of central interest today. Most studies, however, rely on post-1960 data and they usually focus on a single country or region, with a limited perspective on the past. In this article, the topic of energy will be analyzed from the viewpoint of economics, with a long-term historical perspective, over a period of almost 150 years. Several Western European countries will be considered (England, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden).