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On the role of families and kinship networks in pre-industrial agricultural societies: An analysis of the 1698 Slavonian census

Author

Listed:
  • Eugene A. Hammel

    (Department of Demography, University of California at Berkeley, 2232 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94720.)

  • Hans-Peter Kohler

    (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Doberaner Str. 114, 18057 Rostock, Germany.)

Abstract

This paper uses the 1698 Slavonian census to illuminate features of social organization and productive activity of an eastern European population under the New Feudalism of the 17th century. In particular we investigate the ability of community or kinship networks to provide substitutes for missing markets in securities and production factors. It is found that kinship networks increase the efficiency of agricultural production by facilitating the exchange of oxen. This confirms contemporary reports that draft animals were the critical constraint to the expansion of agricultural output. We also find that kinship networks fail to reduce the variability of output through mutual harvest insurance.

Suggested Citation

  • Eugene A. Hammel & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2001. "On the role of families and kinship networks in pre-industrial agricultural societies: An analysis of the 1698 Slavonian census," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 14(1), pages 21-49.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:14:y:2001:i:1:p:21-49
    Note: Received: 03 November 1998/Accepted: 16 June 1999 received by John F. Ermisch and two anonymous referees. Responsible editor: John F. Ermisch.-->
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ingela Alger & Jörgen W. Weibull, 2010. "Kinship, Incentives, and Evolution," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(4), pages 1725-1758, September.
    2. Rama Lionel Ngenzebuke & Bram De Rock & Philip Verwimp, 2018. "The power of the family: kinship and intra-household decision making in rural Burundi," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 323-346, June.
    3. Roland Pongou & Roberto Serrano, 2009. "A Dynamic Theory of Fidelity Networks with an Application to the Spread of HIV / AIDS," Working Papers wp2009_0909, CEMFI.
    4. Iliana Kohler & Hans-Peter Kohler & Philip Anglewicz & Jere Behrman, 2012. "Intergenerational Transfers in the Era of HIV/AIDS: Evidence from Rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 27(27), pages 775-834.
    5. Ingela Alger & Jörgen W. Weibul, 2007. "Kinship, Incentives and Evolution – revised version: Kinship, Incentives, and Evolution," Carleton Economic Papers 07-13, Carleton University, Department of Economics, revised 17 Sep 2010.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Kinship networks · pre-industrial societies · missing markets;

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • N3 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy

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