Pawning and pawners in the industrial era: evidence from Sweden, 1870 to 1950

A decline in pawnshop activity post-1910 is observed, yet loans maintained substantial value relative to daily wages, suggesting pawners were not severely impoverished. Analysis of ledgers from a Swedish naval town (Karlskrona) between 1880 and 1950 reveals seasonal pawning patterns, primarily involving military personnel and workers, with women accounting for 10–20% of transactions. Clothing, notably coats, dominated pawned items, with May emerging as the peak month, indicating seasonality over weekly trends.

Murhem, S., & Ulväng, G. (2023). Pawning and pawners in the industrial era: evidence from Sweden, 1870 to 1950. History of Retailing and Consumption, 9(1), 38–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/2373518x.2023.2259273