JOTTER
by the 17th century England had evolved a legal framework that was unique in Europe and which accidentally encouraged innovation and development of its resources. Firstly it was possible for any subject who amassed sufficient wealth to acquire land as freehold. This gave the owner rights to develop the land as he saw fit , by increasing the productivity of its agriculture, and by mining its mineral wealth , which apart from gold and silver which was the kings , remained the property of its owner. He could also build on it structures such as factories or new towns. English law also practised primogeniture which passed inherited wealth to the oldest son. This generated a steady stream of younger sons from the middle and upper classes who were well educated and had a limited access to capital and access to those who did. This group were strongly motivated to acquire new wealth for themselves and so return to their status of their birth. English society was also social mobile in a way that others in Europe were not. Anyone who acquired wealth could expect to see his sons and daughters begin to move in higher social circles and be accepted there. [1]