This document discusses using a micro-macro approach to analyze shifts in labor relations over time and space. The researchers analyzed digitized US census data from 1850-2012 to derive labor relations from occupations and other variables. They found shifts from self-employment to wage labor over time in certain occupations and regions. Examining data at the household and individual levels also provided insights into life cycle changes in labor relations. The researchers believe digital methods can help validate patterns of labor relations shifts and better explain changes over time and space.

1. Describing and
explaining shifts in
labour relations using a
micro-macro approach
Richard Zijdeman and Rombert Stapel, DH Benelux 2014, The Hague

2. Global Collaboratory on the History of
Labour Relations, 1500-2000
• The relationship with the activity performed to
foresee in ones subsistence
• E.g.: slave, self-employed, wage-earner
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

3. 04/07/14
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
Taxonomy of labour relations

4. Progression of indexing labour relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

5. Status quo and current questions
- Collaboratory of researchers world wide
- Do labour relations change over time and differ
between regions?
- How can we explain such shifts and spatial
differences?
Can we use digital sources to speed up answers
on both questions?
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

6. Approach
- Digitized US census data (1850 – 2012)
- Source: IPUMS-USA
- Derive labour relations from occupations from
census data
- Derive labour relation from additional ‘variables’
- First steps in finding about regional and spatial
shifts in labour relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

7. Old School Advanced flow chart
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

8. Labour relations over time
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

9. 04/07/14
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
Labour relations over time (US 1850-2010)

10. Macro vs. micro derivation of labour
relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010
Agricultural sector (OCC1950-coding)
Percentage of wage-earners (in comparison with self-employed)
Females (OCC1950-coding) Females (OCC1950-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers')
Males (OCC1950-coding) Males (OCC1950-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers')

11. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010
Agricultural sector (CLASSWKR-coding)
Percentage of wage-earners (in comparison with self-employed)
Females (CLASSWKR-coding) Females (OCC1950-coding)
Females (CLASSWKR-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers') Females (OCC1950-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers')
Males (CLASSWKR-coding) Males (OCC1950-coding)
Males (CLASSWKR-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers') Males (OCC1950-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers')
Macro vs. micro derivation of labour
relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

12. Macro vs. micro derivation of labour
relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010
Agricultural sector (incl. slaves 1850-1860)
Percentage of wage-earners (in comparison with self-employed)
Females (CLASSWKR-coding) Females (OCC1950-coding)
Females (CLASSWKR-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers') Females (OCC1950-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers')
Males (CLASSWKR-coding) Males (OCC1950-coding)
Males (CLASSWKR-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers') Males (OCC1950-coding; incl. 'unpaid family workers')
Males: slaves Females: slaves
Females: slaves (projected percentage)

13. Shift in labrel over time: midwives
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010
Midwives
Midwives (combined; 1850-1910) Midwives, wage-earners Midwives, self-employed

14. Shift in labrel over time: meat cutters
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000
1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010
Meat cutters, except slaughter and packing house
Meat cutters (combined; 1850-1910) Meat cutters, wage-earners Midwives, self-employed

15. Regional variation in labour relations (GIS)
percentage self employed in 1870 and 1910
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

16. The importance of household level
Variable
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Age
Household of: Meat cutters, except slaughter and packing house (1920; age distribution)
Non-working Self-employed Wage-earner

17. The importance of the individual level
life cycle of labour relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Age
Meat cutters, except slaughter and packing house (1920; age distribution)
Non-working Self-employed Wage-earner

18. Added value of ‘digital’ methods
• Validation of construction of labour relations
• Assessment of 100-year intervals
• Describe and explain shifts over space and
time
• Introducing the individual and household
level as unit of analysis
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

19. On shifts in labour relations
In addition to hypothesized shifts:
• Evidence for ‘structural’ shifts:
occupations that change in nature
• Life cycle shifts in labour relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

20. contact
richard.zijdeman@iisg.nl
rombert.stapel@iisg.nl
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)

21. Macro vs. micro derivation of labour relations
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Shifts in labour relations using a micro-macro approach (DH Benelux 2014)