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Expenditures and Food Consumption of a Patrician Family in Nineteenth-Century Trentino: the Bossi Fedrigotti

Author

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  • Marcella LORENZINI

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the expenditure and consumption of a noble family from Trentino, the Bossi Fedrigotti, in the nineteenth century. The origin and evolution of the family assets are traced from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century as they shifted from transport to trade, from trade to finance, and finally from finance to agriculture. The research is based on the household budgets and investigates the type, composition and variations in expenditures during two benchmark decades, 1835-44 and 1855-64. The relatively small share of expenses for food as compared to leisure, cultural activities, charity and conspicuous consumption reflects the family’s quest for social status and reputation, leading to the obtainment of a noble title in the eighteenth century. The Bossi Fedrigotti represented a pillar in the economic system of Rovereto, which they actively supported through a variety of economic and non-economic actions, helping the city to prosper and advance.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcella LORENZINI, 2018. "Expenditures and Food Consumption of a Patrician Family in Nineteenth-Century Trentino: the Bossi Fedrigotti," Departmental Working Papers 2018-11, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:mil:wpdepa:2018-11
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giuseppe Luca & Marcella Lorenzini, 2018. "Not Only Land: Mortgage Credit in Central-Northern Italy in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries," Palgrave Studies in the History of Finance, in: Chris Briggs & Jaco Zuijderduijn (ed.), Land and Credit, chapter 0, pages 181-204, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    4. Marcella Lorenzini & Cinzia Lorandini & D'Maris Coffman (ed.), 2018. "Financing in Europe," Palgrave Studies in the History of Finance, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-3-319-58493-5, February.
    5. Richard Blundell & Ian Preston, 1998. "Consumption Inequality and Income Uncertainty," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 113(2), pages 603-640.
    6. Atkinson, Anthony B., 2015. "Inequality: what can be done?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101810, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    9. Marcella Lorenzini, 2018. "Borrowing and Lending Money in Alpine Areas During the Eighteenth Century: Trento and Rovereto Compared," Palgrave Studies in the History of Finance, in: Marcella Lorenzini & Cinzia Lorandini & D'Maris Coffman (ed.), Financing in Europe, pages 107-134, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • R2 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • N00 - Economic History - - General - - - General

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