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Philippine inequality across the twentieth century: slim evidence, but fat questions

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  • Jeffrey G. Williamson

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison and UP School of Economics)

Abstract

In spite of persistent debates about income inequality and pro-poor policy in the Philippines, its history over the past century has been ignored, at least by economists. This is surprising given that the Philippines already had its first census in 1903, long before its neighbors, augmented by other relevant evidence embedded in official documents generated by the American insular government. It is also surprising given that we know that income distributions change only very slowly and must be examined over the long run to identify its drivers. This essay reviews the thin historical evidence and proposes explanations. There is no Kuznets Curve, and no Marxian, Pikettian, or other grand endogenous inequality theory at work, but there are dramatic episodes of change. It appears that there was an inequality rise up to World War 1, a fall between the world wars, a rise to high levels by the 1950s, and an almost certain rise up to the end of the century which, due to mismeasurement, looks instead like stasis. We need to collect better evidence to confirm these narratives and to assess competing hypotheses.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey G. Williamson, 2017. "Philippine inequality across the twentieth century: slim evidence, but fat questions," Philippine Review of Economics, University of the Philippines School of Economics and Philippine Economic Society, vol. 54(2), pages 37-60, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:phs:prejrn:v:54:y:2017:i:2:p:37-60
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    File URL: https://pre.econ.upd.edu.ph/index.php/pre/article/view/954/851
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    Cited by:

    1. Prema-chandra Athukorala, 2021. "Asian economic development: A primer," Departmental Working Papers 2021-07, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    2. Arsenio M. Balisacan, 2019. "Toward a fairer society: inequality and competition policy in developing Asia," Philippine Review of Economics, University of the Philippines School of Economics and Philippine Economic Society, vol. 56(1 and 2), pages 127-146, June and .

    More about this item

    Keywords

    inequality; the Philippines; twentieth century;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • N15 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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