Per Boje

Danish Economic History - Towards a New Millenium

Abstract Economic history is out for the count. One might get that impression from reading recent contributions in international journals,2 and since the mid-1980s quite unscientific observations at several of the great international conferences of The International Economic History Association have led me to the conclusion that the age distribution of the participants has been rather skewed with an annoying dominance of the same sex and age as myself, that is middle-aged or elderly men. It points towards an academic field having passed its palmy days — around a generation ago.

The standard of living in Denmark 1750–1914

Abstract The development of living standards in Denmark during the period 1750–1914 has not received detailed treatment in any single work. Since the 1970s, however, a number of important contributions have appeared which shed light on parts of the period and/or aspects of the very broad concept of the ‘standard of living’. As expected, the facts already known — viz., that Danish society experienced significant economic growth and was generally characterised by less poverty in 1914 than in 1750 — have not been revised; but a more reliable picture has been obtained of the vigour of economic growth and of the way in which the distribution of the increased resources evolved.

The standard of living in Scandinavia 1750–1914

Abstract One of the most protracted debates in history is the one which has been carried on between the «optimists» and the «pessimists» concerning the standard of living of English workers during the early phase of industrialization about 1780–1850. Already at the beginning of the 19th century opinions were divided concerning how the industrialization affected the workers, and since then the debate has been reopened at regular intervals. The contributions from the 1920s are thus well-known, in particular those of J.H. Clapham representing the optimist side and the socialist J.L. Hammond that of the pessimists. About 1960 the economist R.M. Hartwell was the most prominent optimist, while the marxist-inspired social historian E.H. Hobsbawm was the standard-bearer of the pessimist party.

A Career Approach to Entrepreneurship: The Case of Thomas B. Thrige

Thomas B. Thrige was one of the most successful Danish manufacturers of all time. If there are entrepreneurs in the Schumpeterian sense behind the growth of the Danish economy, he certainly looks like one of them. This article gives a brief survey of Thriges professional life and of his contribution to industrialisation in Denmark. His case is discussed in relation to debates about entrepreneurship.

Merchants and artisans in Gothenburg

Abstract Bereil Anderssows treatise, which has been accepted as a doctoral dissertation at the University of Gothenburg, is a synthesis of three independent works: two are parallel studies of the economic conditions of merchants and artisans respectively in Gothenburg between 1806 and B 825, while the third examines the Gokeborg diskont credit institution between % 802 and 181 8.

Select bibliography of contributions to economic and social history appearing in Scandinavian Books, Periodicals And Year-Books, 1976

Abstract This issue of the annual bibliography of the Review is arranged according to themes. Within each of the eight sub-divisions the contributors are presented in alphabetical order. The country of publication is indicated by a subsequent ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘N’, or ‘S’ for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, respectively.

Select bibliography of contributions to economic and social history appearing in Scandinavian Books Periodicals and Year-books, 1975

Abstract This issue of the annual bibliography of the Review is arranged according to themes. Within each of the eight sub-divisions the contributors are presented in alphabetical order. The country of publication is indicated by a subsequent ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘N’, or ‘S’ for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, respectively.