Women and Credit Networks in Finland and Sweden, 1750-1850
Through the study of probate inventories and by applying a social network analysis method to the data collected, it is possible to track these informal credit exchanges and uncover women’s role and position in such networks.
Women’s roles, strategies and involvement both as debtors and creditors will be examined. Changes and transitions observable over time will be paid special attention, with reference to female transactions and their impact on the social and economic fabric of the community.
Probate inventories are especially relevant when it comes to examining private credit networks. Upon an individual’s death, his or her standing credit was assessed, through listing his creditors and debtors’ names and credit/debt standing. In order to collect and analyze the probate inventories necessary for the purpose of this study, a team of four researchers will be involved in this three-year project. 
Current research
This project is funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond via a Pro Futura Scientia grant.
What is Human Economy?
Human economy is an innovative interdisciplinary scientific field dedicated to the observation and analysis of people economic needs and experiences. It aims at (1) complementing and enriching the traditional field of economics by offering and promoting new ideas and innovative solutions from other disciplines, (2)voicing the experiences of people and communities, (3) and proposing concrete policy-driven solutions in which research makes a direct impact.
Human economy tackles observations and analysis to some of the most pressing issues, such as indebtedness, gender equality, poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and growing inequality; and ultimately proposes innovative ideas and solutions for a fairer economy and society.
The main idea behind human economy is to restore a dialogue between disciplines in order to come together to the best and most adapted solutions and analysis with a focus on communities’ well-being.
Humanities and social sciences research can offer alternative perspectives to traditional economics leading to a broader range of policy-driven solutions.
Human Economy is conceived broadly and the lecture series will be an incubator of innovative ideas.
This project examines the role and participation of women in private credit transactions and credit networks in Sweden and Finland from 1750 to 1850.
It will start in January 2018 and will take place at the Stockholm School of Economics.
Elise M. Dermineur (ed.), Women and Credit in Pre-Industrial Europe. Brepols, 2017.
Elise M. Dermineur, Åsa Karlsson Sjögren, Virginia Langum (ed.), Revisiting Gender in European History 1400-1800. Routledge, 2017.
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