Was the Manorial System an Efficient Insurance Institution? Economic Stress and Demographic Response in Sweden, 1749–1859
In much of preindustrial Europe the manorial estate was an important institution in the rural economy. Despite a widespread view that the estates insured its tenants against uncertainties, there is little evidence that measures taken were efficient. This study uses the impact of grain prices on demographic outcomes as a measure of the efficiency of the manorial system in protecting its inhabitants