Introduction to the special issue honoring Paul David

Abstract Paul David’s death on January 22, 2023, marked the end of an era, but not the end of his lasting influence. An economic historian who pushed the boundaries of that field and several others, Paul made pathbreaking contributions in macroeconomics and growth accounting, historical demography, migration, natural resources, slavery, standardization, institutions governing knowledge generation and other topics. For readers of this journal, probably the most salient parts of Paul’s research were in technological innovation and diffusion, path dependence, and the historical origins of Western institutions of science and technology. The range of topics is awe-inspiring. Yet Paul saw connections and even an essential unity to virtually all of this work. His deeper message was and continues to be that a better understanding of history and historical processes can help us to cope with contemporary problems and policies.