Fasta förbindelser : En studie av låntagare hos sparbanken och informella kreditgivare i Sala 1860-1910

Abstract: The major question in this thesis is where private persons borrowed on a local credit market in 1860-1910. This study has focused on informal lenders (in other research often referred to as private bankers), from whom most of private persons borrowed during the 19th century, and the savings bank in Sala. This study has shown that similar groups of individuals borrowed from these two lenders. The informal lenders were often merchants and they were frequently part of larger lending networks. The borrowers were often from the middle and higher social groups and often from the town or closest parishes, which was the case for the borrowers in the savings bank as well. A study of relationships between guarantors and borrowers in the savings bank has been carried out, showing that these individuals were also similar to one another with regard to social group and area of residence. Personal relationships and networks and accordingly trust explain why these relationships and similarities were frequent. Additionally, by using personal relationship this was also a way to handle information asymmetries and lowering transaction costs.