Funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet)
Project period: 2025–2028
Genealogies of Old Wealth (GLOW) explores how Sweden’s wealthiest families managed and transmitted their fortunes between 1850 and 1950 – a period of rapid industrialisation and growing inequality. Using a pioneering genealogical approach, the project traces wealth through family trees, combining tax records, probate inventories, and wills to reveal how inheritance shaped economic inequality. By linking individuals, families, and society, GLOW uncovers the strategies behind long-term wealth preservation and offers new insights into how inherited fortunes influenced modern society.
The project is led by Martin Dackling (Lund University) and Matteo Pompermaier (University of Brescia). Project assistant is Emma Börjesson (Lund University). The research team will later include additional research assistance.
Publications from the project so far:
Dackling & Pompermaier, “Mapping Family, Wealth, and Inheritance: A Genealogical Approach (Sweden, 18th-20th centuries)”, accepted for publication in Journal of Interdisciplinary History