Project Manager
Aldman, Lili-AnnAmount granted
1 240 000 SEKYear
2012
The key for both trade and production is that there are consumers willing to buy their goods and services. Consumption is closely linked to a country's economic growth. What goods are demanded and when has always been linked to the financial resources and confidence of customers. It is likely that the credit and credit terms offered during a given period of time have also played a role. The use or non-use of consumer credit has often been controversial, as it has both positive and negative effects. One way to stimulate consumption that is used today is to offer potential customers credit. The positive effect is that the customer can spread their consumption expenditure over time and trade and production receive regular income. The downside is that some people will buy more than they can afford. But what was it like before the 20th century? The overall purpose of the project is to study whether there is a connection between the emergence and changes in consumer credit and credit conditions, with the political and consumption changes that took place during the period 1650-1870. The study is limited to Gothenburg and Stockholm and the surrounding area. The main questions are: Can the emergence of new, changed credits or credit conditions explain the changes in consumption? Were consumption credits and conditions affected or influenced by international crises and political transitions? What was the share of consumption accounted for by credit in each period?