Methods and sources for the study of Swedish standards of living

Abstract

Recent studies of trends in Swedish standards of living raise questions of principle. Are the trends best measured in terms of individuals or of households, in monetary units or by the acquisition of goods and services? How ought income to be defined for this purpose? Is it better to investigate a cross-section of the population or occupational groups, and which years ought to be studied to obtain a valid series over time? Some of these problems have been elucidated by two dissertations published in the course of the inter-university research project on Swedish living standards 1925-1960, M. Järnek's study of household incomes in the city of Malmö between 1925 and 1964 and the present author's investigation of certain occupational groups in Gothenburg from 1919 to 1960.¹ This article is an attempt to continue and expand the discussion.