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Wealth Distribution and the Canadian Middle Class: Historical Evidence and Policy Implications

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  • Livio Di Matteo

Abstract

Historical and modern wealth microdata examines the long-term evolution in Canadian wealth inequality. Wealth inequality has increased in recent decades but is more equally distributed than a century ago. The chief beneficiaries of a more "equitable" wealth distribution were the "middle" shares, as represented by the next 40 percent of the distribution after the top 10 percent. Despite the onset of more redistributive government in the twentieth century, the wealth share of the bottom 50 percent has remained low over time and represents a more pressing set of policy and social issues than the middle class.

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  • Livio Di Matteo, 2016. "Wealth Distribution and the Canadian Middle Class: Historical Evidence and Policy Implications," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 42(2), pages 132-151, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpp:issued:v:42:y:2016:i:2:p:132-151
    DOI: 10.3138/cpp.2015-041
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    1. James B. Davies & Nicole M. Fortin & Thomas Lemieux, 2017. "Wealth inequality: Theory, measurement and decomposition," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 50(5), pages 1224-1261, December.
    2. Vincent Geloso & Peter Lindert, 2020. "Relative costs of living, for richer and poorer, 1688–1914," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 14(3), pages 417-442, September.
    3. James B. Davies & Livio Di Matteo, 2021. "Long Run Canadian Wealth Inequality in International Context," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(1), pages 134-164, March.

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