Presentation given today at the 20th Annual Conference of the European Societ for the History of Economic Thought (www.eshet.net) in Paris. Erik Gustaf Geijer was a Swedish 19th century prominent historian and researcher. Geijer considered a far reachning liberalisation of society and the economy necessary but was interested in understanding better the causes and possible remedies for poverty. In a number of Essays written 1838-39 he outlined the history of and possible remedies of poverty.

1. The Poor Laws
Political Economy Essays by
Erik Gustaf Geijer
Björn Hasselgren, PhD
KTH Royal Institute of
Technology/Timbro
ESHET Annual Conference
Paris 26-28 May 2016
The Erik Gustaf Geijer
Translation Project

2. Erik Gustaf Geijer (1783-1847)
• Born 1783 in western Swedish County Värmland, family owns small
business iron mill at Ransäter
• Geijer studies at Uppsala University from 1799-1806. Inspired by
German idealism and utilitarian French revolutionary/egalitarian
sentiments.
• Turns into a leading conservative/nationalist 1810-1835
• Professor (History 1817-1846), elected Governor of the University,
several times elected to Parliament (the Riksdag). One of the most
famous 19th century researchers and intellectuals in Sweden
(scholar, poet, composer, active in public debate)
• Establishes a journal ”Litteratur-Bladet” in 1838 where he
announces his ”Deflection” (”Affallet”) to liberalism
• Dies 1847 in Stockholm

3. The EG Geijer Translation Project
• Geijer was extremely productive; essays,
lectures, articles etc.
• Only few translated to English
• The Poor Laws and History of the Swedes
down to Charles X exceptions
• A translation project is now under way,
covering a number of central texts (2016-17)

4. Geijer lecture
manuscripts on Swedish
History (1815-17), more
than 4000 pages.
Carolina Rediviva,
Uppsala University
Library

5. What is significant in Geijer’s writings?
• Geijer keeps returning to analysing the major
social, political and economic dilemmas of the
19th century
• A basic question is whether society is constructed
by man (”art”) or given by ”nature”
• How to handle the conflict between the new
liberalism and the need for cohesion and
conservative elements?
• ”Republicanism” or ”Feudalism” (1818-19)

6. ”The Poor Laws and their Bearing on
Society” (Fattigvårdsfrågan)
• Published in Litteratur-Bladet 1838-39 in a
number of essays. Published in English 1842 in
London.
• Nine essays covering historical, sociological,
religious, political and political economy
themes on ”pauperism” and the origins of
inequality in society.
• Focus here is on Essays 4, 7-9.

7. Essay 4 – ”on the increase of
population and its bearing on welfare”
• A long term perspective on population growth
• The introduction of the English Poor Laws 1795 –
necessary but detrimental (incentives, cost)
• Industrialization and liberal economic policies is
the (only) way forward to feed a growing
population, Malthus’s view is not right.
• Subsequent transitions between ”orders” in
society
• Now the ”third order”; democratization

8. Essay 7 – ”on corrective punishments”
• There will always be need for corrective
measures to hinder poverty
• The public sector should have the
responsibility, but voluntary associations are
necessary
• A modern prison-system is important, part of
the ”third order”(?)
• Tocqueville/Beaumont inspiration

9. Essay 8 – ”on negative means against
pauperism”
• Different means against poverty are discussed:
1. negative (Essay 7)
2. palliatory – short term and with risk of sustaining poverty
3. positive – active (”social and economic policy”) measures
• Work/poor houses in category 2 above should be restricted
to few -> generally develops into category 1 institutions
• Important with state rather than local government
responsibility
• Important to design support in order to foster the self-
dependence of the poor
• In case of recession, government support is justified

10. Essay 9 – ”on positive means against
pauperism”
• Long term promotion of ”the welfare of
society” makes necessary:
– Good institutional frameworks with necessary
”quality”
– Continuous change and evolution of ”wants” is a
historical fact – conservatism is a ”stationary view”
– Law, moral and piety have to be combined
– Liberal reform agenda; deregulation and trade
– Examples from Germany

11. Conclusion 1
Romanticist/idealist or Anglosaxon liberal?
• Three periods in Geijer’s intellectual work (Hessler 1937):
 ”utilitarian liberal” 1798-1809
 ”national conservative” 1809-1830-tal
 ”classical liberal” 1830-tal –
• Traditional view on G – strongly influenced by
idealism/romanticism (Schelling etc.), society as an
organism
• Less discussed – connection to the English/American view
and ”classical liberal” scholars – Hobbes, Locke, Burke,
Smith (moral philosophy)
• Strong influence; background in iron industry, stay in
England 1809-10, Quarterly Journal och Edinburgh Journal

12. Conclusion 2
Poverty seen from a liberal economic and
institutional standpoint
• ”Political economy” – industrialization and
personality principle ”individualism” – important
themes
• The continuous development of society and the
institutional framework basic assumption
• Rule of law, secure property rights and division of
labour in combination with increased growth key for
welfare
• Incentives are central in the formation of poverty
reduction

13. Björn Hasselgren, PhD
KTH Royal Institute of Technology/Timbro
+46-70-762 3316
Bjorn.hasselgren@abe.kth.se
Bjorn.hasselgren@timbro.se
@hasselgrenB