If, for the sake of argument, we take the hypothesis that 40% of the population (10.5 millions) was living below a given “poverty-line” in 1790, but only 30% of the population (18.1 millions) in 1841, nevertheless the absolute number of the poor will have increased from about four millions to well over five millions. More poverty will be “felt” and, moreover, there will in fact be more poor people.
