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Agricultural growth and institutions: Sweden, 1700–1860

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  • OLSSON, MATS
  • SVENSSON, PATRICK

Abstract

The dating of, and explanation for, the agricultural revolution in Europe remains an elusive research task. When and why did a low-productive pre-industrial agricultural sector turn into a fast-growing, more productive one? Unique data from Sweden, consisting of more than 80,000 observations of farm production output for the period 1700–1860, are used to calculate and explain decisive changes in pre-industrial agricultural production. Our estimations show that crop production more than quadrupled during the period studied, and from the 1780s and onwards production growth by far outstripped population growth. Furthermore, the data allow us to estimate the determinants of change at individual farm level. The results show that enclosures, markets and property rights were of significant importance. Institutional changes, affecting the incentives and the organization of production, made peasants invest in production and productivity. In a general sense this shows the flexibility and awareness of pre-industrial European peasants in exploiting markets and initiating institutional change.

Suggested Citation

  • Olsson, Mats & Svensson, Patrick, 2010. "Agricultural growth and institutions: Sweden, 1700–1860," European Review of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(2), pages 275-304, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:ereveh:v:14:y:2010:i:02:p:275-304_00
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vicente Pinilla, 2018. "Agriocliometrics and Agricultural Change in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries," Documentos de Trabajo (DT-AEHE) 1803, Asociación Española de Historia Económica.
    2. Sharp, Paul & Boberg-Fazlic, Nina & Lampe, Markus & Martinelli Lasheras, Pablo, 2020. "Winners and Losers from Enclosure: Evidence from Danish Land Inequality 1682-1895," CEPR Discussion Papers 14616, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Maria Waldinger, 2015. "The economic effects of long-term climate change: evidence from the little ice age," GRI Working Papers 214, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
    4. Bengtsson, Erik & Svensson, Patrick, 2018. "The wealth of the Swedish peasant farmer class 1750–1900: Composition and distribution," Lund Papers in Economic History 177, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    5. Mats Olsson & Fredrik Bergenfeldt & Patrick Svensson, 2011. "Wagons at work: a transport revolution in the age of agrarian transition in Sweden?," Working Papers 11018, Economic History Society.
    6. Kerstin Enflo & Anna Missiaia, 2020. "Between Malthus and the industrial take‐off: regional inequality in Sweden, 1571–1850," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 73(2), pages 431-454, May.
    7. Dribe, Martin & Eriksson, Björn & Scalone, Francesco, 2019. "Migration, marriage and social mobility: Women in Sweden 1880–1900," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 93-111.
    8. Boberg-Fazlić, Nina & Lampe, Markus & Martinelli Lasheras, Pablo & Sharp, Paul, 2022. "Winners and losers from agrarian reform: Evidence from Danish land inequality 1682–1895," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    9. Ogilvie, Sheilagh & Carus, A.W., 2014. "Institutions and Economic Growth in Historical Perspective," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 8, pages 403-513, Elsevier.
    10. Falk, Marcus & Bengtsson, Erik & Olsson, Mats, 2023. "Wealth, work, and industriousness, 1670–1860: Evidence from rural Swedish probates," Lund Papers in Economic History 251, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    11. Patrick Svensson & Mats Olsson, 2013. "The landlord lag: productivity on peasant farms and landlord demesnes, Sweden 1700-1860," Working Papers 13016, Economic History Society.
    12. Prados de la Escosura, Leandro & Ã lvarez-Nogal, Carlos & Santiago-Caballero, Carlos, 2020. "Growth Recurring in Preindustrial Spain: Half A Millennium Perspective," CEPR Discussion Papers 14479, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. Schön, Lennart & Krantz, Olle, 2012. "Swedish Historical National Accounts 1560-2010," Lund Papers in Economic History 123, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    14. Olsson, Mats & Svensson, Patrick, 2017. "Estimating agricultural production in Scania, 1702–1881 : User guide for the Historical Database of Scanian Agriculture and overall results," Lund Papers in Economic History 151, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    15. Martin Dribe & Omar Karlsson, 2022. "Inequality in early life: Social class differences in childhood mortality in southern Sweden, 1815–1967," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 75(2), pages 475-502, May.
    16. Bengtsson, Erik & Svensson, Patrick, 2020. "The living standards of the labouring classes in Sweden, 1750–1900: Evidence from rural probate inventories," Lund Papers in Economic History 213, Lund University, Department of Economic History.

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