Young Lads and Old Tars

Changing Age Structure of the Nordic Sailors, 1750s–1930s

Bibliographic Data

ID11204999
AuthorsJari Ojala (0000-0002-4348-8857, University of Jyväskylä, corresponding author), Jari Eloranta (0000-0002-8572-5902, University of Helsinki), Jaakko Pehkonen (0000-0002-9684-7139, University of Jyväskylä), Anu Ojala (0000-0001-9409-6098, University of Jyväskylä)
Year2022
Volume46
Issue4
Pages861-886
Publication date2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0145-5532 • E-ISSN: 1527-8034
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/ssh.2022.16
OpenAlexW4312771720
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited27

This article analyzes the changing age structure of Swedish and Finnish sailors for almost 200 years. We show that the proportion of the youngest men increased during the age of sail (i.e., the older technology). The average age increased significantly during the early twentieth century as steam (i.e., the newer technology) replaced sail in Nordic shipping. Thus, a technological revolution did not displace the older workers, but rather diminished the demand for the younger ones. This study shows, however, that technological changes were not the only drivers of changes in the age structure of Nordic sailors. Institutional and societal changes also played an important role, though they were at least partly coevolving with the technological changes. This study also shows that the maritime industry experienced professionalization especially during the latter part of the period

Age structure · Archaeology · Art · Demographic economics · Economic history · Economics · Economy · Industrial Revolution · Period (music · Political science · Professionalization · Sociology · Technological change · Demography · Historical Economic and Social Studies · History · Law

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