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Industrialization and Wage Inequality in Nineteenth-century Urban America

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  • John A. James
  • Mark Thomas

Abstract

What happened to wage inequality during American industrialization? The paper uses old and new data to address this question. The old data are in the form of pay ratios, while the new capture changes in the overall wage distribution, rather than in just the relative pay of workers at the top and bottom. Using payroll information from the Aldrich report for establishments in construction, railroads and manufacturing, we calculate Theil indices for all production workers. These two data sets provide complementary information but suggest a common conclusion – namely that American wage inequality did not rise perceptibly over the nineteenth century.

Suggested Citation

  • John A. James & Mark Thomas, 2000. "Industrialization and Wage Inequality in Nineteenth-century Urban America," Journal of Income Distribution, Ad libros publications inc., vol. 9(1), pages 4-4, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:jid:journl:y:2000:v:09:i:1:p:4-4
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    File URL: http://jid.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/jid/article/view/608
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    Cited by:

    1. Gray, Rowena, 2020. "Inequality in nineteenth century Manhattan: Evidence from the housing market," QUCEH Working Paper Series 2020-02, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.

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