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State reforms in early modern mining : Røros copperworks and the role of workers managers, investors and the state in business development

Ranestad, Kristin LU (2022) In Business History 64(4). p.831-853
Abstract
State reforms adopted in the 1680s prevented the largest copperworks in the Oldenburg Monarchy, Røros, from shutdown. The changes ensured supply deliveries and regular wage payments through spread of ownership, delegating more responsibilities to the Director and managers and introducing complex control mechanisms and state monitoring of the accounts and daily tasks. They appear relatively advanced and may well have been a forerunner in the European context. Why were the reforms adopted, and why were the regulations formed this way? Miners, smelters and farmers all had a role in the implementation of these reforms. They organised themselves in an early form of union and demanded regular wage payments and better terms of work. Two Royal... (More)
State reforms adopted in the 1680s prevented the largest copperworks in the Oldenburg Monarchy, Røros, from shutdown. The changes ensured supply deliveries and regular wage payments through spread of ownership, delegating more responsibilities to the Director and managers and introducing complex control mechanisms and state monitoring of the accounts and daily tasks. They appear relatively advanced and may well have been a forerunner in the European context. Why were the reforms adopted, and why were the regulations formed this way? Miners, smelters and farmers all had a role in the implementation of these reforms. They organised themselves in an early form of union and demanded regular wage payments and better terms of work. Two Royal Commissions were staffed by a handful of state officials, which meticulously went through the accounts, regulations and organisation of Røros and in the main acknowledged the interests of the workers. The increased state involvement was related to the Kings Frederick III and Christian V’s economic interests in Røros who were inspired by mercantilist thoughts of the time. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Norwegian copper mining, early modern period, stakeholders, management, state reforms
in
Business History
volume
64
issue
4
pages
831 - 853
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85089460329
ISSN
1743-7938
DOI
10.1080/00076791.2020.1797681
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2c4e963f-b953-4d7e-9ca0-2a681842a42d
date added to LUP
2020-08-14 13:52:48
date last changed
2022-06-30 12:07:03
@article{2c4e963f-b953-4d7e-9ca0-2a681842a42d,
  abstract     = {{State reforms adopted in the 1680s prevented the largest copperworks in the Oldenburg Monarchy, Røros, from shutdown. The changes ensured supply deliveries and regular wage payments through spread of ownership, delegating more responsibilities to the Director and managers and introducing complex control mechanisms and state monitoring of the accounts and daily tasks. They appear relatively advanced and may well have been a forerunner in the European context. Why were the reforms adopted, and why were the regulations formed this way? Miners, smelters and farmers all had a role in the implementation of these reforms. They organised themselves in an early form of union and demanded regular wage payments and better terms of work. Two Royal Commissions were staffed by a handful of state officials, which meticulously went through the accounts, regulations and organisation of Røros and in the main acknowledged the interests of the workers. The increased state involvement was related to the Kings Frederick III and Christian V’s economic interests in Røros who were inspired by mercantilist thoughts of the time.}},
  author       = {{Ranestad, Kristin}},
  issn         = {{1743-7938}},
  keywords     = {{Norwegian copper mining, early modern period, stakeholders, management; state reforms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{831--853}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Business History}},
  title        = {{State reforms in early modern mining : Røros copperworks and the role of workers managers, investors and the state in business development}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2020.1797681}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00076791.2020.1797681}},
  volume       = {{64}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}