Jewish Occupational Selection: Education, Restrictions, or Minorities?
研究了公元8-9世纪前犹太人从农业转向城市职业的原因，认为公元1-2世纪犹太教的宗教和教育改革带来的广泛识字率是其获得城市技能比较优势的关键。
Before the eighth–ninth centuries CE , most Jews, like the rest of the population, were farmers. With the establishment of the Muslim Empire, almost all Jews entered urban occupations despite no restrictions prohibiting them from remaining in agriculture. This occupational selection remained their distinctive mark thereafter. Our thesis is that this transition away from agriculture into crafts and trade was the outcome of their widespread literacy prompted by a religious and educational reform in Judaism in the first and second centuries CE , which gave them a comparative advantage in urban, skilled occupations. We present evidence that supports our argument.