An industrious revolution in Norway?

Abstract

Jan de Vries theory of an industrious revolution has received much attention from historians working on economic and social development. Its aim is to unify the contrasting descriptions of the rise of the Industrial Revolution, but the question is how it fits the empirical development. This article tests if the industrious revolution is a fruitful concept to use to describe and explain pre-industrial development in Norway. It concludes that Norwegian pre-industrial economic development resembles an industrious revolution only superficially. On closer examination, it is clear that the consumer aspirations that are central in the industrious revolution theory were not the main driving force behind the economic development that took place in pre-industrial Norway. One must instead see the changes in a wider, transnational perspective. © 2014 the Historical Associations of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.