Economic growth and purchasing power parities in the Nordic countries 1830-1910

Abstract

The present paper examines new estimates of GDP for the five Nordic countries 1830-1910 in terms of economic growth and purchasing power parities. It concludes that significant economic growth took place during the period. The long-run growth was surprisingly even. However, up to the 1870s this growth was strongest in Norway. From then on Sweden had fastest growth, when Norway experienced relative decline. PPP calculations of GDPs show that Denmark was best off of Nordic countries in the entire period. Norway was number two to the end of the nineteenth century, and then over taken by Sweden in the early 1900s. Finland and Iceland obtained similar levels 1870-1910.