Explaining the Rise in Antebellum Pauperism: New Evidence / Lynne L. Kiesling, Robert A. Margo.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kiesling, Lynne L.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Margo, Robert A.

Series:

Historical Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. h0092.

NBER historical working paper series no. h0092

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Explaining the Rise in Antebellum Pauperism

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 1996.

Summary:

The 1850s witnessed one of the earliest American history. During the decade the proportion of individuals receiving public assistance -- increased from 5.8 in 1850 to 10.2 in 1860, an increase of 76 percent. Previous attempts to explain the increase in antebellum pauperism have been hampered by the available published data, which are too aggregated to be of much use. This paper explores the determinants of antebellum pauperism using previously unexploited archival data drawn from the manuscript censuses of social statistics. These records provided detailed evidence on the incidence of pauperism at the county level. We find that about half of the increase in pauperism can be attributed to falling real wages during the decade. Contributing factors were increased immigration and urbanization.

Notes:

Print version record

September 1996.