Luciana Quaranta
Senior lecturer
Inequality and demographic response to short-term economic stress in North Orkney, Scotland, 1855-1910 : Sector differences
Author
Summary, in English
We examine economic inequality and social differences in infant and child mortality, and fertility responses to food price changes in North Orkney, 1855–1910, using linked vital records. This small population featured a diverse occupational structure, limited land resources, and geographic isolation from mainland Scotland. Segments of Orkney’s non-agricultural working population were living so close to the margin of subsistence in normal years that an increase in food prices in bad years cost the lives of their children. Delayed childbearing, in addition to increased labour intensity, occupational diversification, and poor relief, failed to mitigate the negative effects of unfavourable prices in this group. While previous studies for Western Europe show a strong social gradient in mortality responses to food prices, and for Eastern Asia a strong household gradient, this study shows a strong sectoral gradient, indicating low standards of living for the non-agricultural working population well into the twentieth century.
Department/s
- Centre for Economic Demography
- Department of Economic History
- EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health
Publishing year
2017-09-02
Language
English
Pages
313-328
Publication/Series
Population Studies
Volume
71
Issue
3
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Routledge
Topic
- Economic History
Keywords
- infant mortality
- child mortality
- fertility
- occupation
- event-history analysis
- staple grain prices
- Scotland
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1477-4747