EH.Net Abstracts in Economic History

Name:  Scott A. Carson
Email:  sac33 at email.byu.edu
Institution: Brigham Young University

Co-author:

Title: Redemption Servitude in America's Great Basin: Repayment and
Enforcement Mechanisms
Internet Address of abstracted work:
By mail: 4920 North University #60
                    Provo, UT 84604 USA

Language:  English

Abstract:
 The Perpetual Emigrating Fund (PEF) was an institution of redemption
servitude in the 19th century American West.   This paper considers PEF
repayment rates and migrant characteristics who failed to repay the Fund.
In the 1850s, older male migrants were less likely to default if they 
lived in urban areas, such as Salt Lake City.  Personal wealth and duration
in
the Great Basin also contributed to 1850's PEF repayment.  However, during
the 1860s, the only significant demographic or wealth factor was the time
the household had been in the Great Basin. The PEF initiated programs to
deal 
with migrants who failed to repay their debts.	The PEF relied on both 
positive and negative enforcement mechanisms to encourage repayment.  
Negative enforcement mechanisms included financial, institutional and peer 
pressure tactics.  Positive programs included a public works system where 
poor migrants, who would have otherwise repaid their debts, could work on  
community projects until their debt was repaid.

Bibliography:  Carson, Scott A.  "Redemption Servitude in America's Great
Basin: Repayment and Enforcement Mechanisms."  Working paper, January 
1999.

Subject: T
Geographical Area:  7
Country/Region:  US
Time Period:  7

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