Though there is no doubt that the demographic crisis of the 14th century caused a dramatic fall in production and commerce in absolute terms, there has been a vigorous historical debate over whether the decline was greater than the fall in population.
Selvom der ikke er tvivl om, at den demografiske krise i 1300-tallet forårsagede et dramatisk fald i produktionen og handelen i "absolutte" termer, så har der været en voldsom historisk debat om det i dette fald var større end reduktionen i befolkningen.