Page 134 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 134
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
their home parish. It was easy to recognise them, because they wore tradi-
tional clothing unique to each parish in Dalarna.
Conclusion
It is clear that peasants in the region of Dalarna created an integrated eco-
nomy as defined by Panjek (2015). It was an economy in which households
made their living by combining agriculture and market-oriented activities,
and the latter clearly represented a substantial part of their income. The pe-
asants had activities in all three economic sectors: primary, secondary, and
tertiary. They were active players in this development, and local specialisa-
tions produced and traded commodities, tools, and equipment. They were
also consumers and brought home commodities from their trade journeys.
These non-agriculture sources of income created a complex and compre-
hensive economic strategy. In the creation of an integrated peasant eco-
nomy in Dalarna, the commons came to play a vital role.
Final remarks
In this chapter, I have described how corporate, collective actions develo-
ped concomitantly in a rural setting. In particular, the case study of Da-
larna demonstrates how labour specialisation, including migration of la-
bour and intensified use of commons, developed as the peasant economy
diversified and became increasingly integrated. Taking a closer look at how
agriculture, including animal husbandry, and market-oriented activities
were organised, it is apparent that collective management was important
in both and that these activities built on each other. The market-oriented
occupations were often regional or local specialisations where households
worked together in teams. Producers from a certain area could also divide
the market among its members, as in the case of hide skinners and tanners
from Malung Parish. Similar to the silent revolution in medieval western
Europe (de Moor 2009), institutions for governance of CPRs and labour
specialisations emerged at the same time. This highlights the connection
between peasants’ commons and market-oriented activities in early mo-
dern Dalarna.
132
their home parish. It was easy to recognise them, because they wore tradi-
tional clothing unique to each parish in Dalarna.
Conclusion
It is clear that peasants in the region of Dalarna created an integrated eco-
nomy as defined by Panjek (2015). It was an economy in which households
made their living by combining agriculture and market-oriented activities,
and the latter clearly represented a substantial part of their income. The pe-
asants had activities in all three economic sectors: primary, secondary, and
tertiary. They were active players in this development, and local specialisa-
tions produced and traded commodities, tools, and equipment. They were
also consumers and brought home commodities from their trade journeys.
These non-agriculture sources of income created a complex and compre-
hensive economic strategy. In the creation of an integrated peasant eco-
nomy in Dalarna, the commons came to play a vital role.
Final remarks
In this chapter, I have described how corporate, collective actions develo-
ped concomitantly in a rural setting. In particular, the case study of Da-
larna demonstrates how labour specialisation, including migration of la-
bour and intensified use of commons, developed as the peasant economy
diversified and became increasingly integrated. Taking a closer look at how
agriculture, including animal husbandry, and market-oriented activities
were organised, it is apparent that collective management was important
in both and that these activities built on each other. The market-oriented
occupations were often regional or local specialisations where households
worked together in teams. Producers from a certain area could also divide
the market among its members, as in the case of hide skinners and tanners
from Malung Parish. Similar to the silent revolution in medieval western
Europe (de Moor 2009), institutions for governance of CPRs and labour
specialisations emerged at the same time. This highlights the connection
between peasants’ commons and market-oriented activities in early mo-
dern Dalarna.
132
