Apprenticeship and Training in Premodern England

This paper re-examines the economics of premodernapprenticeship in England. I present new data showing that ahigh proportion of apprenticeships in seventeenth centuryLondon ended before the term of service was finished. I thenpropose a new account of how training costs and repaymentswere distributed over the apprenticeship contract such thatneither master or apprentice risked significant loss from earlytermination. This new account fits with the characteristics ofpremodern apprenticeship, as well as with what is knownabout the acquisition of skills in modern and premodernsocieties.[...]