HEIRS is a research node focused on the historical study of household economy and inheritance. It brings together scholars working on how property, resources, and family strategies were transferred across generations and how these practices shaped inequality and social structures. HEIRS explores both elite and ordinary households, from the early modern period to the twentieth century. The node serves as a collaborative platform for international exchange, connecting research on households and inheritance to broader debates on inequality and economic history. While based primarily at Lund University, HEIRS seeks to foster broad international collaboration.
Painting at top: William Home Lizars. Reading the will (1811). National Galleries of Scotland.