Romesh Vaitilingam (@econromesh.bsky.social)

#SSGreatBritain - economic historian Tim Hatton on how Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s iconic ship succeeded where others failed in large-scale cargo & passenger shipping, thanks to its size & innovative design that combined sail & steam power @voxeu.org #IsambardKingdomBrunel cepr.org/voxeu/column...

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How the SS Great Britain overcame the tyranny of distance The transition from sail to steam power for cargo and passenger shipping to Australia lagged behind the North Atlantic by nearly two decades. This column explores how Brunel’s iconic ship, the SS Great Britain, succeeded where others failed, thanks to its size and innovative design that combined sail and steam power. The Great Britain made 32 voyages from the UK to Australia between 1852 and 1875, carrying thousands of passengers and cargo. Its owners, Gibbs, Bright and Co., played a crucial role in its success through their business acumen and ability to manage the ship's operations effectively. https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/how-ss-great-britain-overcame-tyranny-distance