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Economic inequality in preindustrial Germany, ca. 1300–1850

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  • Alfani, Guido
  • Gierok, Victoria
  • Schaff, Felix

Abstract

This article provides an overview of wealth inequality in Germany during 1300–1850, introducing a novel database. We document four alternating phases of inequality decline and growth. The Black Death (1347–1352) led to inequality decline, until about 1450. Thereafter, inequality rose steadily. The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) and the 1627–1629 plague triggered a second phase of inequality reduction. This distinguishes Germany from other European areas where inequality grew monotonically. Inequality growth resumed from about 1700, well before the Industrial Revolution. Our findings offer new material to current debates on the determinants of inequality change in western societies, past and present.

Suggested Citation

  • Alfani, Guido & Gierok, Victoria & Schaff, Felix, 2022. "Economic inequality in preindustrial Germany, ca. 1300–1850," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 113758, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:113758
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/113758/
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    Cited by:

    1. Julio Martinez-Galarraga & Marc Prat, 2022. "Pre-industrial inequality in Catalonia," UB School of Economics Working Papers 2022/430, University of Barcelona School of Economics.
    2. Naudé, Wim & Nagler, Paula, 2022. "The Ossified Economy: The Case of Germany, 1870-2020," IZA Discussion Papers 15607, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Guido Alfani & Hector García Montero, 2022. "Wealth inequality in pre‐industrial England: A long‐term view (late thirteenth to sixteenth centuries)," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 75(4), pages 1314-1348, November.
    4. Schaff, Felix S.F., 2023. "Warfare and Economic Inequality: Evidence from Preindustrial Germany (c. 1400-1800)," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant agreement No. 283802; EINITE-Economic Inequality across Italy and Europe; 1300–1800; as well as under European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program/ERC Grant agreement No. 725687; SMITE-Social Mobility and Inequality across Italy and Europe; 1300–180;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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