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emigration.
667
picture of the chief features of the growth and movement of population in
Sweden in particular, and Europe in gerteral, but which is broadened and deepened
into a statistical and economic review of Swedish industrial life, particularly as
regards agriculture.
In this connection, we are first presented with a detailed statistical description
of Sweden, the chief purpose of which is orientation, and which give full statistics
touching the rural districts, providing the necessary data for estimating the
economic position of the different parts of the country. To this is added, on the one
hand, a description of the geographical conditions governing Swedish industry,
and, on the other hand, a series of general economic surveys and comparisons,
which together present a complete picture of the economic life of Sweden, the
different industries, communications, the population, and the movements of
population.
The investigation then branches out in two directions, illustrating — always
from the point of view of the emigration problem — partly the agricultural
industry, and partly, though less comprehensively, the other industries.
With regard to agriculture, we are presented with two fundamental statistical
accounts; on the one hand, an account of the shiftings within the agricultural
population that have taken place in Sweden from the middle of the 18th
century to present times, and, on the other hand, an account of the cutting up of
larger properties during the 19th century — an important factor in the
emigration question.
These problems, moreover, involve further special investigations concerning the
undermining of the peasant class, which stands in connection with the
disappearance of the hereditary principle, the cutting-up of land, and the assembling into
larger estates of peasant properties. Another nearly related question is the rise,
growth, and decline of the classes of crofters, cotters, and dependent tenants,
with special reference to the decline of the crofter class. In connection with
these investigations and the suggestions for reform in the matter of the policy
guiding measures dealing with the holding of land — which indirectly suggest
themselves — an account is given of the small farms movement and the
settlements in foreign countries, in the British Isles, in Prussia, and in the United
States.
In these accounts of the position of the agricultural industry lies the centre
of gravity of the emigration investigations, so far as the fundamental enquiries
involved in the so-called supplementary investigations are concerned. And this
is quite natural, since it is chiefly from the agricultural classes that the ranks
of the emigrants have been recruited. In connection, however, with the rapid
industrialization of the country which the last few decades has witnessed,
emigration has spread even within those groups of the population which depend for
their livelihood on industries, trade, communications, etc. Consequently, the
investigations have been obliged to take account of industrial life, though not
to the same extent, since the industries are expanding and can absorb an
increasingly great proportion of the excess of population, whilst it is exactly within
the department of agriculture that, development has ceased. Thus, within the
department of industrial life, investigation has been limited to securing and
publishing pronouncements from Chambers of Commerce, Commerce and Shipping
Boards and Committees, Associations, and private business men, and to effecting
one or two special enquiries as to methods of work and the output of the
American mechanical industry.
Finally, one volume has been devoted partly to a series of communications
dealing with the settlement of Swedes in foreign countries, and partly to the
consideration of various special measures which have as their object the
facilitation of the return of emigrant Swedes to their native country.
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