Symposium on freedom of trade and commerce

"Every Swedish man or woman is [...] entitled to engage in trade or manufacturing, craftsmanship or other business in town or country; to export or import goods to and from foreign places, as well as to transport goods between domestic places" (from the ordinance of 1864).

Sara Johansson

16 Nov. 2012

The freedom to run a business without having to conform to guild restrictions and regulations gradually emerged over decades. The decisive step was taken in 1864 through new legislation. Driving the reforms was Sweden's finance minister Johan August Gripenstedt.

The Centre for Business History is marking the beginning of this innovative period with a symposium on Wednesday, November 21 at the Old Parliament House (in what today is the Administrative Court of Appeal's plenary hall) on Riddarholmen.

The symposium features Professor Göran Ahlström, Professor Lena Andersson-Skog, Professor Lena Johannesson, Archive Manager Lars Ilshammar, Editor Ulrika Knutson, Editor Per T Ohlsson, and in a debate panel also Urban Bäckström from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Ronald Fagerfjäll, author, and Jens Henriksson from Nasdaq OMX.

Updated

2026-04-19

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Margarita Feldman

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The interior design company Svenskt Tenn's unique and historical design items, furniture, and textiles are now all gathered at the Centrum för Näringslivshistoria, along with sketches, drawings, and documents. The consolidated deposit will help Svenskt...

21 Apr. 2026

Margarita Feldman

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The site changes name and appearance – welcome Foretagshistoria.se!

8 Apr. 2026

Den digitala läsesalen som Centrum för Näringslivshistoria nu lanserar finns på arkivet.naringslivshistoria.se.

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