Soft coal, hard choices: The economic welfare of bituminous coal miners, 1890-1930

Book · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5503610

Fishback, P V

Price Fishback, an economist at the University of Arizona, has looked backward and studied the economic welfare of the bituminous coal miner during the industry's ascendancy, from 1890 to 1930. The result is an impressive work which should be of interest to all students of Appalachia. His account combines economic theory and quantitative evidence to examine the historical record. There are chapters on the coal market during the period as well as appendices presenting the technical basis for the author's work. Chapters are devoted to a discussion of wages and the role of the unions, accident/safety legislation and workers compensation. Living conditions in the company town and the role of the company store are explored as well as the economic development of the region. Labor shortages, subsequent hiring of minorities, and the social problems associated with discrimination and segragation are discussed. Finally, Fishback examines the strike data and draws conclusions about why miners chose to strike.

• OSTI ID: 5503610
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
015000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
294001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
ANIMALS
BITUMINOUS COAL
BLACK COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL MINERS
COAL MINING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MINERS
MINING
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
QUALITY OF LIFE
SAFETY
SAFETY STANDARDS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
STANDARDS
VERTEBRATES
WAGES
WORKING CONDITIONS