Question

what was the subsistence crisis? why did it occur in france during the old regime?

Answer 1

subsistance crisis means scarcity of food grains. it occur in france because there was increase in population and decrease in production of food grains

Answer 2

The theory of Subsistence Crisis was first proposed by the French economic historian Meuvret in 1946. Subsistense Crisis is brought about by economic factors which may be man-made or natural. It threatens supply of basic food materials and thereby effects the survival prospects of a large population.

 High price of food items in France during the early 18th century lead to scarcity of food, especially among the common man.  Disease, malnutrition and death due to starvation was common. It was this relationship between high price of food and disease, starvation, death that lead Meuvret to chalk out the theory of Subsistense Crisis.