This book examines the political motivation, regional variations and the economic and demographic impact of the Poor Law in the rural south of England.

Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1. The development and administration of the old poor law in rural areas, 1760-1834; 2. The old poor law in historical perspective; 3. An economic model of the English poor law; 4. The old poor law and the agricultural labor market in Southern England: an empirical analysis; 5. The effect of poor relief on birth rates in Southeastern England; 6. The poor law, migration and economic growth; 7. The new poor law and the agricultural labor market, 1834-1850; 8. The economics of poor relief in industrial cities; Conclusion; References; Index.