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Long-Run Trends in the Distribution of Income and Wealth

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  • Daniel Waldenstrom
  • Jesper Roine

Abstract

This paper reviews the long run developments in the distribution of personal income and wealth. It also discusses suggested explanations for the observed patterns. It tries to answer questions such as: What do we know, and how do we know, about the distribution of income and wealth over time? Are there common trends across countries or over the path of development? How do the facts relate to proposed theories about changes in inequality? We present the main inequality trends, in some cases starting as early as in the late eighteenth century, combining previous research with recent findings in the so-called top income literature and new evidence on wealth concentration.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Waldenstrom & Jesper Roine, 2015. "Long-Run Trends in the Distribution of Income and Wealth," Working Papers id:7200, eSocialSciences.
    • Handle: RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:7200
    Note: Institutional Papers
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anthony J. Venables, 2008. "Rethinking Economic Growth in a Globalizing World," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 28041, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    income inequality; income distribution; wealth distribution; economic history; top incomes; welfare state; taxation; long-run distribution.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • N30 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - General, International, or Comparative

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