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Patrick Svensson

Patrick Svensson

Presentation

I am Professor of Agrarian History at SLU since May 2017. My background is in economic history and I was trained at Lund University where I defended my doctoral dissertation in 2001 and became associate professor in economic history in 2010.

My main research area concerns the workings of the pre-industrial economy and the transition to modern economic growth. Within this I have focused particularly on the process and the consequences of the agricultural revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Lately, I have broadened my research into two areas: First, long-term studies of inequality in Sweden from the early seventeenth to the late nineteenth century using probate inventories and wealth taxes. Second, I have received a four year grant from the Swedish Research Council (VR) for a project where we use peasant diaries to follow a local rural context and its members on micro level over the agricultural and industrial revolutions, 1840-1920. My work is highly empirical and, through formalized international research cooperation, comparative within a European context.

Selected publications

Articles (peer-review)

Bengtsson, Erik and Patrick Svensson (2022) "The living standards of the labouring classes in Sweden, 1750-1900: evidence from rural probate inventories", Agricultural History Review, 70:1, pp. 49-69. Open access: https://www.bahs.org.uk/AgHRVOL.html?YEAR=2022&MOD=this 

Bengtsson, Erik, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2022) "Mercantilist Inequality: Wealth and Poverty in Stockholm 1650-1750", The Economic History Review, 75:1, pp. 157-180. Open access: DOI: 10.1111/ehr.13081

Bengtsson, Erik and Patrick Svensson (2019) "The wealth of the Swedish peasant-farmer class 1750-1900: composition and distribution", Rural History, vol. 30, issue 2, p. 129-145. Open access: doi:10.1017/S0956793319000116

Bengtsson, Erik, Missiaia, Anna, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2019) "Aristocratic wealth and inequality in a changing society: Sweden 1750-1900", Scandinavian Journal of History, 44 (1), p. 27-52, DOI.

Bengtsson, Erik, Missiaia, Anna, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2018) "Wealth inequality in Sweden 1750-1900.", The Economic History Review, 71:3, p. 772-794, DOI

Hedefalk, Finn, Svensson, Patrick and Lars Harrie (2017) "Spatiotemporal historical datasets at micro-level for geocoded individuals in five Swedish parishes, 1813-1914.", Nature: Scientific Data, 4:170046. doi: 10.1038/sdata.2017.46. www.nature.com/articles/sdata201746

Dribe, Martin, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2017) "The agricultural revolution and the conditions of the rural poor, southern Sweden 1750-1860.", The Economic History Review, 70:2, p. 483-508.

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2016) "The landlord lag - productivity on peasant farms and landlord demesnes during the agricultural revolution in Sweden, 1700-1860", Scandinavian Economic History Review, 64:1, p. 55-71.

Hedefalk, Finn, Harrie, Lars and Patrick Svensson (2015) "Methods to create a longitudinal integrated demographic and geographic database on the micro-level: a case study of five Swedish rural parishes, 1813-1914", Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History, 48:3, p. 153-173.

Hedefalk, Finn, Harrie, Lars and Patrick Svensson (2014) "Extending the Intermediate Data Structure (IDS) for longitudinal historical databases to include geographic data", Historical Life Course Studies, vol. 1, p. 27-46.

Bergenfeldt, Fredrik, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2013) "Wagons at Work: A Transport Revolution from Below - the Case of Sweden, 1750-1850.", Agricultural History Review, 61:1, p. 63-82.

Dribe, Martin, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2012) "Was the Manorial System an Efficient Insurance Institution? Economic Stress and Demographic Response in Sweden, 1749-1859.", European Review of Economic History, 16, p. 292-310.

Dribe, Martin, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2012) "Manorialisme et gestion du risque dans la société préindustrielle. La Suède aux XVIIIe et XIXe siècles", Annales. Histoire, Sciences sociales, 67:2, p. 451-469.

Dribe, Martin, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2012) "If the landlord so wanted... Family, farm production and land transfers in the manorial system.", The Economic History Review, 65:2, p. 746-769.

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2010) "Agricultural growth and institutions, Sweden 1700-1860", European Review of Economic History, 14:2, p. 275-304.

van de Putte, Bart and Patrick Svensson (2010) "Measuring social structure in a rural context. Applying the SOCPO-scheme to Scania, Sweden (17th-20th century)", Belgisch Tijdschrift voor Nieuwste Geschiedenis/Revue belge d'histoire contemporaine, vol. XL, no. 1-2, p. 249-293.

Dribe, Martin and Patrick Svensson (2008) "Social Mobility in Nineteenth-Century Rural Sweden - A Micro Level Analysis", Scandinavian Economic History Review, 56:2, p. 122-141.

Svensson, Patrick (2006) "Peasants and Entrepreneurship in the Nineteenth-Century Agricultural Transformation of Sweden", Social Science History, 30:3, p. 387-429.

Nilsson, Anders, Pettersson, Lars and Patrick Svensson (1999) "Agrarian transition and literacy: The case of nineteenth century Sweden", European Review of Economic History, 3:1, p. 79-96.

Books

Dribe, Martin and Patrick Svensson (2020) Den industrialiserade staden. Staden - Riksbankens Jubileumsfonds årsbox 2020. Stockholm och Göteborg: Makadams förlag. ISBN: 978-91-7061-317-3 link

Hillbom, Ellen and Patrick Svensson (eds.) (2013) Agricultural Transformation in a Global History Perspective. London and New York: Routledge.

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (eds.) (2011) Growth and stagnation in European historical agriculture. Turnhout: Brepols publishers.

Svensson, Patrick (2001) Agrara entreprenörer. Böndernas roll i omvandlingen av jordbruket i Skåne ca. 1800-1870. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International (doktorsavhandling).

Book chapters

Hedefalk, Finn, Svensson, Patrick & Anna Tegunimataka (2024) “Migration in Times of Economic Growth and Recession”, in Dribe, M., Nilsson, T. and A. Tegunimataka (eds.) Urban lives. An Industrial City and Its People During the Twentieth Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 115-145. 

Dribe, Martin & Patrick Svensson (2024) “Landskrona: The Industrial City”, in Dribe, M., Nilsson, T. and A. Tegunimataka (eds.) Urban lives. An Industrial City and Its People During the Twentieth Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 26-81.

Svensson, Patrick (2024) "Järnvägen, sågen, skogen och Norrland", in Arfvidsson Womack, A., Svanberg, F. and U. Torell (eds.) Nordbor. Liv och rörelse under 500 år. Stockholm: Nordiska Museet och Makadam förlag, p. 273-279.

Olsson, Mats & Patrick Svensson (2019) "Le démarrage de la croissance. La révolution agricole dans le Sud de la Suède, 1702-1864", in Herment, L. (ed.) Histoire rurale de l'Europe, XVIe-XXe siècle. Paris: Editions EHESS, p. 153-176.

Dribe, Martin, Olsson, Mats & Patrick Svensson (2017) "Nordic Europe", in Alfani, G & C. Ó Gráda (eds.) Famine in European History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 185-211.

Svensson, Patrick (2013) "Land Market, Property Rights, and Agricultural Transformation in southern Sweden 1680-1870", in Béaur, G. Schofield, P. Chevet, J-M och M-T Perez-Picazo (red.) Property Rights, Land Markets and Ecionomic Growth in the European Countryside (Thirteenth-Twentieth Centuries). Turnhout: Brepols publishers, p. 455-473.

Hillbom, Ellen and Patrick Svensson (2013) "Introduction", i Hillbom, E. och P. Svensson (eds.) (2013) Agricultural Transformation in a Global History Perspective. London and New York: Routledge, p. 1-25.

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2013) "Production and credits: A micro level analysis of the agrarian economy in Västra Karaby parish, Sweden, 1786-1846" i Hillbom, E. och P. Svensson (eds.) (2013) Agricultural Transformation in a Global History Perspective. London and New York: Routledge, p. 206-228.

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2011) "Agricultural production in southern Sweden, 1702-1864", i Olsson, M. and P. Svensson (eds.) (2011) Growth and stagnation in European historical agriculture. Turnhout: Brepols publishers, p. 117-139.

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2011) "Measuring and explaining agricultural growth", i Olsson, M. and P. Svensson (eds.) (2011) Growth and stagnation in European historical agriculture. Turnhout: Brepols publishers, p. 15-34.

Dribe, Martin, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2010) "Economic Crises, Manorialism, and Demographic Response: Southern Sweden in the Preindustriak Period", i Kurosu, S., Bengtsson, T. och C. Campbell (eds.) Demographic Responses to Economic and Environmental Crises. Kashiwa: Reitaku University, p. 17-47.

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2009) "Peasant economy - markets and agricultural production in southern Sweden 1711-1860", i Pinilla, V. (ed.) Markets and Agricultural change in Europe from the 13th to the 20th Century. Turnhout: Brepols publishers, p. 75-106.

Dribe, Martin and Patrick Svensson (2008) "Statarnas geografiska rörlighet, sociala ursprung och fruktsamhet", i Lundh, C. and M. Olsson (eds.) Statarliv - i myt och verklighet. Hedemora: Gidlunds förlag, p. 187-210.

Other publications

Svensson, Patrick (2024) ”Skiftena bidrog till kraftig tillväxt av jordbruksproduktionen”, editorial column in ATL-Lantbrukets affärstidning, July 18, 2024

Lazuka, Volha, Bengtsson, Tommy and Patrick Svensson (2023) ”The Causal Effects of Enclosures on Production and Productivity”, IZA Discussion Papers No. 16394. link

Svensson, Patrick (2022) "De obesuttna i Stensjö by", Agrarhistoria 8. Uppsala: Avdelningen för agrarhistoria. link

Bengtsson, Erik, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2019) "Mercantilist Inequality: Wealth and Poverty in Stockholm 1650-1750", Lund Papers in Economic History, no. 210. link

Dribe, Martin and Patrick Svensson (2019) "Landskrona 1900-2000: A Comparative Analysis of the Economic and Demographic Development", Lund Papers in Economic Demography, 2019:3 link

Bengtsson, Erik and Patrick Svensson (2018) "The Wealth of the Swedish Peasant Farmers Class 1750-1900: Composition and distribution" Lund Papers in Economic History, no 177. Department of Economic History, Lund University

Bengtsson, Erik, Missiaia, Anna, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2017) "The Wealth of the Richest: Inequality and the Nobility in Sweden, 1750-1900". Lund Papers in Economic History, no. 161. Department of Economic History, Lund University. link

Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2017) "Estimating agricultural production in Scania, 1702-1881: User guide for the Historical Database of Scanian Agriculture and overall results." Lund Papers in Economic History, no. 151. Department of Economic History, Lund University. link

Harrie, Lars, Hedefalk, Finn, Pantazatou, Karolina D., Bengtsson, Tommy, Quaranta, Luciana and Patrick Svensson (2016) Poster. The International Cartographic Society's (ICA) commission on the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development: Goal No 3 - Good Health and Well-Being. Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for All at All Ages. Conference: 6th session of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM, 3–5 August 2016) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1093.9122

Dribe, Martin, Olsson, Mats and Patrick Svensson (2015) "Famines in the Nordic countries, AD 536-1875". Lund Papers in Economic History, no. 138. Department of Economic History, Lund University. link 

Databases

Bengtsson, T., Dribe, M., Quaranta, L. & P. Svensson (2021) The Scanian Economic Demographic Database: Version 7.2 (Machine-readable database). Lund University: Centre for Economic Demography

Olsson, M. & P. Svensson (2017) Historical Database of Scanian Agriculture, version 3.0. Lund: Department of Economic History

Links


Contact

Professor at the Department of Urban and Rural Development; Division of Agrarian History
Telephone: +4618673549, +46790670925
Postal address:
Inst för stad och land
Box 7012
750 07 Uppsala
Visiting address: Ulls väg 27, Uppsala