Swedish Historical National Accounts 1560-2010

A comprehensive set of GDP series for Sweden with annual estimates at both aggregate and sector levels 1560-2010 is presented (Swedish Historical National Accounts of 2012). New series for the period 1560-1800 are linked to slightly revised data for 1800-2000, which are extended to 2010. The series provide a new view on Swedish long term development. While there was long term stagnation between the late sixteenth and the early nineteenth century, secular fluctuations were considerable with low points around 1600 and 1800 and with a peak around 1700. The early peak was surpassed only in the late nineteenth century. Furthermore, the revisions of the 1800-2000 series have a considerable impact upon benchmark comparisons of income levels. Thus, minor revisions of prior sector accounts for agriculture and services of dwellings, together with a major shift in deflation technique, raises the level of Swedish GDP in constant prices in the early nineteenth century by about 45 percent. The paper gives an overview of the data construction and of the revisions for the new SHNA. The paper also provides a presentation of a satellite account on unpaid domestic work. Furthermore, links to the full data set are given.