The Matrix materials are based on the best empirical sources available to our knowledge: official statistics and historical research in economic statistics, social statistics, archaeology and ethnology.

Our aim is to provide a high-quality, interdisciplinary statistical toolkit for a wide range of applications. We hope that the rich material of data, charts, timelines and analyses will not only impart knowledge, but also provide inspiration for further discussion and research.

Volume 7 of the matrix materials contains key data tables on topics such as population, labour force, production, productivity, working hours, unemployment, distribution, consumption and the environment.

Explanations of the tables and in-depth methodological explanations are also included. In addition, the most important sources of the matrix materials are presented, representing the current state of research in the disciplines of economic and social statistics, archaeology, ethnology and global history research.

The empirical data and the explanations in the data manual are continuously updated, expanded and further developed. The data manual is available as a freely accessible online publication.