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Explaining pre-industrial inequality in Navarre and Aragon in the mid-19th century

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  • Adrián Palacios-Mateo

Abstract

This paper uses a highly detailed database with information of more than 155,000 individuals to construct wealth inequality during the mid-19th century for 655 towns in Navarre and Aragon. The compilation of this information, together with agrarian information, census data and Geographic Information System techniques, permits, not only the characterization of inequality through the territory in a pre-industrial and agrarian society, but the understanding of the determinants of it. Measure as the wealth accumulated by the upper percentile, inequality was driven by market dynamics as those towns with higher productivity, easy access to markets and growing demand had higher inequality. Moreover, the results show the resilience of aristocracy, being able to hold economic power while the society transformed around them.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrián Palacios-Mateo, 2024. "Explaining pre-industrial inequality in Navarre and Aragon in the mid-19th century," Documentos de Trabajo de la Sociedad de Estudios de Historia Agraria 2402, Sociedad de Estudios de Historia Agraria.
    • Handle: RePEc:seh:wpaper:2402
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    wealth inequality; agrarian history; micro-data; 19th century Spain;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N53 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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