The living standards of the labouring classes in Sweden, 1750–1900: Evidence from rural probate inventories
(2022) In Agricultural History Review 70(1). p.49-69- Abstract
- We present new estimates of the living standards among the rural labouring classes in Sweden from 1750 to 1900. Starting with a database of more than 1,000 probate inventories of rural, landless and semi-landless people from the years 1750, 1800, 1850 and 1900, we study the development for crofters in particular. In a sub-sample of 120 probate inventories we map in great detail the material items of the crofter households, focusing especially on two categories: the means of production (animals and agricultural tools) and consumption goods. The crofters held over time fewer means of production but more consumption goods: glass, porcelain, mirrors, and clocks become more common. However, the decrease in means of production indicates a... (More)
- We present new estimates of the living standards among the rural labouring classes in Sweden from 1750 to 1900. Starting with a database of more than 1,000 probate inventories of rural, landless and semi-landless people from the years 1750, 1800, 1850 and 1900, we study the development for crofters in particular. In a sub-sample of 120 probate inventories we map in great detail the material items of the crofter households, focusing especially on two categories: the means of production (animals and agricultural tools) and consumption goods. The crofters held over time fewer means of production but more consumption goods: glass, porcelain, mirrors, and clocks become more common. However, the decrease in means of production indicates a greater dependence on wage labour, rising land prices made it more difficult to become a farmer, and housing standards stayed poor. The study shows the usefulness of probate inventories to study labouring people’s living standards. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- We present new estimates of the living standards among the rural labouring classes in Sweden from 1750 to 1900. Starting with a database of more than 1,000 probate inventories of rural, landless and semi-landless people from the years 1750, 1800, 1850 and 1900, we study the development for crofters in particular. In a sub-sample of 120 probate inventories we map in great detail the material items of the crofter households, focusing especially on two categories: the means of production (animals and agricultural tools) and consumption goods. The crofters held over time fewer means of production but more consumption goods: glass, porcelain, mirrors, and clocks become more common. However, the decrease in means of production indicates a... (More)
- We present new estimates of the living standards among the rural labouring classes in Sweden from 1750 to 1900. Starting with a database of more than 1,000 probate inventories of rural, landless and semi-landless people from the years 1750, 1800, 1850 and 1900, we study the development for crofters in particular. In a sub-sample of 120 probate inventories we map in great detail the material items of the crofter households, focusing especially on two categories: the means of production (animals and agricultural tools) and consumption goods. The crofters held over time fewer means of production but more consumption goods: glass, porcelain, mirrors, and clocks become more common. However, the decrease in means of production indicates a greater dependence on wage labour, rising land prices made it more difficult to become a farmer, and housing standards stayed poor. The study shows the usefulness of probate inventories to study labouring people’s living standards. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/c419df56-64ef-4107-85d6-62579e4b5172
- author
- Bengtsson, Erik LU and Svensson, Patrick LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Agricultural History Review
- volume
- 70
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 49 - 69
- publisher
- BAHS - British Agricultural History Society
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85160545623
- ISSN
- 0002-1490
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- c419df56-64ef-4107-85d6-62579e4b5172
- alternative location
- https://www.bahs.org.uk/AgHRVOL.html?YEAR=2022&MOD=this
- date added to LUP
- 2022-10-12 14:51:32
- date last changed
- 2023-06-23 04:00:24
@article{c419df56-64ef-4107-85d6-62579e4b5172,
abstract = {{We present new estimates of the living standards among the rural labouring classes in Sweden from 1750 to 1900. Starting with a database of more than 1,000 probate inventories of rural, landless and semi-landless people from the years 1750, 1800, 1850 and 1900, we study the development for crofters in particular. In a sub-sample of 120 probate inventories we map in great detail the material items of the crofter households, focusing especially on two categories: the means of production (animals and agricultural tools) and consumption goods. The crofters held over time fewer means of production but more consumption goods: glass, porcelain, mirrors, and clocks become more common. However, the decrease in means of production indicates a greater dependence on wage labour, rising land prices made it more difficult to become a farmer, and housing standards stayed poor. The study shows the usefulness of probate inventories to study labouring people’s living standards.}},
author = {{Bengtsson, Erik and Svensson, Patrick}},
issn = {{0002-1490}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{49--69}},
publisher = {{BAHS - British Agricultural History Society}},
series = {{Agricultural History Review}},
title = {{The living standards of the labouring classes in Sweden, 1750–1900: Evidence from rural probate inventories}},
url = {{https://www.bahs.org.uk/AgHRVOL.html?YEAR=2022&MOD=this}},
volume = {{70}},
year = {{2022}},
}