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.