Den fattige och förnöjsamme: Krisbiografier och social ordning i svenskt 1800-tal / Crisis-biographies, mentality, and poverty: a study of 19th century Sweden

This article deals with records of individuals who received poor relief in a Swedish region in the 19th century. This region developed from being principally agrarian into one of the fastest growing areas in Europe in the 1860's and 1870's. In most cases recipients of poor relief came from the lowest social stratum. Some with a farming background differed in that they were opposed to the type of aid offered. Although national poor laws existed, local self-government was the key factor to consider: various local political cultures developed according to their socio-economic context. Three issues are particularly conspicuous. Firstly, it was fundamental that all citizens fit for work were responsible for earning their own living and were expected to avoid being dependent on handouts. Secondly, local authorities had the overall duty to support the distressed, but in cases of existing next of kin this duty was transferred to them. This often gave rise to conflicts. Thirdly, a significant development took place concerning overall tendencies emanating from issues such as the spreading of risk in cases of accident or serious damage: solutions based on joint responsibility among parishioners were superceded by individual insurance.