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Measuring Historical Inequality in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Albers Thilo

    (Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany)

  • Bartels Charlotte

    (DIW Berlin, Berlin, Germany)

  • Schaff Felix

    (European University Institute (EUI), Fiesole, Italy)

Abstract

This article surveys the measurement of historical wealth and income inequality in Germany. We discuss the underlying data sources, the challenges they pose, and the opportunities they create. We also identify two promising avenues for future research. First, we argue that the geographic granularity of German historical statistics provides researchers with the opportunity to investigate the causes of inequality. Second, several dimensions of historical inequality remain under-explored, for example, the equalizing role of welfare state institutions such as public pensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Albers Thilo & Bartels Charlotte & Schaff Felix, 2024. "Measuring Historical Inequality in Germany," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 25(4), pages 275-299.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:germec:v:25:y:2024:i:4:p:275-299:n:1002
    DOI: 10.1515/ger-2024-0060
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Timm Bönke & Giacomo Corneo & Holger Lüthen, 2015. "Lifetime Earnings Inequality in Germany," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 33(1), pages 171-208.
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    3. Thomas Piketty & Gabriel Zucman, 2014. "Capital is Back: Wealth-Income Ratios in Rich Countries 1700–2010," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 129(3), pages 1255-1310.
    4. Emmanuel Saez & Gabriel Zucman, 2016. "Editor's Choice Wealth Inequality in the United States since 1913: Evidence from Capitalized Income Tax Data," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(2), pages 519-578.
    5. Charlotte Bartels & Maria Metzing, 2019. "An integrated approach for a top-corrected income distribution," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 17(2), pages 125-143, June.
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    8. Wegge, Simone A., 2021. "Inheritance Institutions and Landholding Inequality in Nineteenth-Century Germany: Evidence from Hesse-Cassel Villages and Towns," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 81(3), pages 909-942, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inequality; measurement; history;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N14 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: 1913-

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