Marknaden och skogens långa skugga

Marknadsföreställningar och relationen till framtiden i 1800-talets skogspolitiska debatter

Abstract

The 19th century saw the privatization and industrialization of Swedish forests, together with increasing concern for future forest shortages. This article investigates market notions and the relationship to the future in Swedish forestry debates during the middle and end of the century. It shows that the rights of present and future generations were partly conceptualized in economic terms. It further argues that as a balanced, economic interest was seen as an important incentive for forest management, the market was given an important role for notions of responsible forestry. Nevertheless, some worried that the forest differed from other commodities. For example, “räntabilitetsteorin” stated that the forest’s value growth was slower than other long-term investments, leading to questions about the economic rationality for private individuals to cultivate forests. The end of the century also saw growing concern for the forest as a capital being “locked” while growing, clashing with modern economic life.