Hatcher, John, 'England in the Aftermath of the Black Death', Past & Present 144 (1994), 3-35

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Quick Summary

The Black Death improved living standards and increased the disposable income of peasants and labourers in the three decades after 1350

  • The Black Death brought an end to rampant unemployment
  • Challenges the idea that the economic impacts of the plague were relatively minor
  • Reinterpretation of price and wage data taken from manorial records
Key Conclusion

Hatcher concludes that there was a ‘dramatic shift away from the rampant unemployment and underemployment’ (p. 31) which had characterised the English economy before the Black Death. Employers sought to entice new labourers and retain existing labourers by offering perks and bonuses – such as food, clothing and accommodation – in addition to increased money wages. Disposable incomes increased as labourers and smallholder were left with ‘money in their pockets’ after meeting the basic needs of subsistence.

Content Overview

Hatcher’s findings challenge existing interpretations which have questioned the economic significance of the Black Death. According to these existing interpretations, English society and the economy were already in the process of major change before the outbreak of the plague, and the Black Death did relatively little to speed up the process. Hatcher’s conclusion also challenges the view the Black Death resulted in only modest improvements to the standards of living of labourers.

Further Findings

Hatcher’s conclusion is based on the reinterpretation of price and wage data taken from manorial records. Hatcher questions the ability of such data to reflect changes to real wages and disposable incomes in the three decades after 1350. As a final thought, Hatcher suggests that the increased demand for labour after the Black Death may have enhanced labourers’ self-esteem, thereby encouraging them to question authority and tradition.

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