Soldier, soldier, what made you grow so tall? A study of height, health, and nutrition in Sweden, 1720–1881

Abstract

Abstract Despite the fact that Sweden may be better endowed with historical statistics than any other country, serious deficiencies exist in our quantitative knowledge of Swedish economic history. In particular, carefully prepared National Income Accounts, and per capita income estimates, do not exist for the period before 1861. Indeed, even the published income estimates for the later 19th century do not meet with universal acceptance. Before 1861, however, things get very murky indeed. Thus, referring to a period as recent as 1830–60, Lennart lorberg is forced to conclude: “We do not know whether the living standard of the population fell (or rose).” (Jörberg, 1969, p. 260).