Includes bibliographical references and index.

"This chapter introduces the research presented in the book. It starts by highlighting the importance of an individual-level perspective to understand how long-term economic and societal changes connected with industrialization and post-industrialization have affected individuals and families during the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. It discusses a detailed periodization, linking the developments in Landskrona to broader economic and societal developments in Sweden and internationally. The chapter also presents the study area and the Scanian Economic-Demographic Database and discusses the core concepts, variables, and methods used in the different chapters of the book"-- Provided by publisher.