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Social mobility in the early middle ages

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  • Meinzer, Nicholas J.

Abstract

Estimates of inequality of living standards based on average height differences between socioeconomic strata are likely biased if the social status of some individuals changed during their lifetime. Height differences estimated from skeletal remains, reflecting living standards during childhood and adolescence, are probably too small if social status is inferred based on grave goods which are associated with the individuals’ social status at the time of their death. The higher the level of social mobility, the more distinguished individuals will not have had a privileged childhood and, therefore, have the biological characteristics of the disadvantaged group. In a newly assembled sample of individual level anthropometric data from 26 early medieval row grave cemeteries in south-western Germany, men buried with a long sword in their grave were on average about 3cm taller than the others. In a simple model of the mechanics of the social-mobility bias, this height difference, together with parameters from the literature, implies a level of social mobility typical of small-scale agricultural or pastoral societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Meinzer, Nicholas J., 2017. "Social mobility in the early middle ages," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 111-120.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:64:y:2017:i:c:p:111-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2016.08.001
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    1. Koepke, Nikola & Baten, Joerg, 2005. "The biological standard of living in Europe during the last two millennia," European Review of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(1), pages 61-95, April.
    2. Manor, Orly & Matthews, Sharon & Power, Chris, 2003. "Health selection: the role of inter- and intra-generational mobility on social inequalities in health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(11), pages 2217-2227, December.
    3. D. Blane & S. Harding & M. Rosato, 1999. "Does social mobility affect the size of the socioeconomic mortality differential?: evidence from the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 162(1), pages 59-70.
    4. Boix, Carles & Rosenbluth, Frances, 2014. "Bones of Contention: The Political Economy of Height Inequality," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 108(1), pages 1-22, February.
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    1. Meinzer, Nicholas J., 2018. "Persisting patterns of human height? Regional differences in living standards in the Early Middle Ages," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 148-167.

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