Inequality and demographic response to short-term economic stress in North Orkney, Scotland, 1855–1910: Sector differences

Abstract

We examined economic inequality and social differences in infant and child mortality and fertility responses to food price changes from 1855–1910 in North Orkney 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 showed a strong social gradient in the mortality response to food prices, and for Eastern Asia a strong household gradient, this study showed a strong sectoral gradient indicating low standards of living for the non-agricultural working population into the twentieth century.

The association between network centrality and standard of living in a historical agrarian population

“…However, the social gradient with respect to network centrality is less clear in the mortality models than in the fertility models. While these results should not be over‐interpreted given sample limitations, the general pattern of associations is consistent with the mortality response to short term stress observed in analyses focused on occupational sector (Jennings et al, ). Central network positions may be advantageous as they could improve the chances of assistance during times of stress or provide information about work opportunities.…”

“…This study examines social position in two types of social networks and standard of living in a historical agricultural population, North Orkney, Scotland. Prior work in this population demonstrates that inequality in access to land, proxied by occupation sector, is associated with different demographic responses to short‐term food price fluctuations, with nonagricultural workers more vulnerable to economic stress than those working in agriculture (Jennings, Quaranta, & Bengtsson, ). The network approach used here goes beyond occupational sector to assess relative position in the community's economic and social networks through measures of network centrality.…”

“…Previous research on this population used historical listings of occupations to assess socioeconomic structure and its effects on mortality and fertility (Jennings et al, ; Sparks, ; Sparks, Wood, & Johnson, ). Efforts have been made to standardize historical occupations and link them to social status in comparative analyses (Lambert, Zijdeman, van Leeuwen, Maas, & Prandy, ; Schulz & Maas, ; Van De Putte & Miles, ; van Leeuwen, Maas, & Miles, ).…”

“…The two kinds of tie are further linked as service ties could increase the chances of future marriage ties between households, or marriage may prepare the way for future service relationships. Both networks reveal aspects of the social structure of this rural community and the formation of social capital and social resources in a region where access to land and other resources is limited and the standard of living is relatively low (Jennings et al, ).…”

“…Most linkage failures are attributed to inability to distinguish names or to events that occurred outside of the study area or study period. Under‐registration of births and deaths is minimal in this data set (Jennings et al, ). Out‐migration cannot be accounted for in most family reconstitution studies, including this one, and is a limitation of this analysis.…”