Quantitative Concretization in the Model Method in Economic History

Abstract

This article explores the methodological foundation and role of quantitative concretization within the model method as applied to economic history. The background for the study is the growing influence of quantitative approaches in historical research, particularly since the emergence of “new economic history” and the increasing reliance on models to analyze historical economic phenomena.
The main objective of the study is to define what constitutes quantitative concretization, distinguish it from traditional quantification, and outline how it operates within the framework of theoretical modeling. Topolski argues that the effectiveness of quantification in economic history depends not only on the technical use of numerical data, but also on the integration of these data within a model that is both theoretically grounded and reflective of past economic reality (PER).
The article draws on theoretical foundations from economics, sociology, and logic, as well as examples from the works of J. Rutkowski, P. Deane, and W. A. Cole. It critically examines the application of idealized models to historical data, differentiating between types of models depending on how deeply they “suspend” elements of reality for the sake of analysis.
Topolski concludes that quantitative concretization is not merely a methodological preference but a necessary procedure when dealing with quantifiable or partially quantifiable structures. He emphasizes that concretization serves both to bring models closer to empirical reality and to verify them. Although not all historical structures lend themselves to full quantification, the method enables deeper understanding of economic processes by revealing patterns and causal relationships. This approach, he suggests, offers a promising pathway for economic historians seeking a more comprehensive and systematic reconstruction of the past.