Short-term economic stress and mortality differentials in rural Estonia, 1834–1884

This study examines the influence of short-term economic stress on mortality in nineteenth-century rural Estonia. We utilised vital registration, ‘soul revisions’ and listings of migrants from 1834 to 1884 to focus on two parishes in the northern part of Livland (now southern Estonia). In this period, rural areas were transitioning from the old manorial system to a more market-oriented society, and we hypothesise that some groups were more vulnerable during this process. We investigate whether the type of local manor – state – or privately owned – was related with the level of mortality and moderated the association between mortality and grain price changes. Our second question concerns the importance of social status as a predictor of mortality rates. The results indicate that infant and child mortality rates were lower in the state estate, compared with privately owned manors, but child mortality in the state estate was more responsive to price changes. Socio-economic status appears to be a relevant predictor for child and adult mortality, as landless and semi-landless labourers experienced a higher level of mortality risk compared with farmers and skilled workers. Increases in grain prices, however, were mostly related to mortality risk of farmers.