L'habitation, phénomène économique et social.
The Dwelling Place As An Economic And Social Phenomen: L. de Saint-Moulin (La construction et la propriété des maisons, Seraing depuis le début du 19e siècle, Brussels, 1969) has stressed in the most convincing way the cohesion between economic movements, the demographical evolution and the rhythm of the construction of dwelling-places. But one should consider another aspect of the human dwelling, one of interest for quantitative social history : the quality of the houses is easy to deduce, as are the totals of houses, from the land registry but the former gives the clearest possible picture of the social rank of each inhabitant. The hierarchy in dwelling places directly reflects that hierarchy of the inhabitants. It is a technique that is easier and safer than the one based on tax-rolls, professions and indications of wealth.