ABSTRACT
TH E V A R I O U S A T T E M P T S to explain the Industrial Revolution can bedescribed as ‘models’. An historical/economic ‘model’ is a simplified way of representing a set of economic processes – in this case, those processes which brought about the Industrial Revolution. The model provides a schematic outline which maps the broad sweep of reality – or of what the deviser of the model thinks is reality. Behind the models there are economic theories which explain why the processes outlined in the model should lead to economic growth. Theories differ, however, which is one reason for disagreement between writers on economic growth; another is the schematic nature of models, which means that it is difficult to construct a model which is simple, but is also a sufficient representation of reality. These two potential reasons for disagreement help to explain why it is so difficult to achieve consensus about the Industrial Revolution.
