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Inequality in rural Catalonia in the early eighteenth century

Author

Listed:
  • Julio Martinez-Galarraga

    (University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; Centre d’Estudis Jordi Nadal, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Marc Prat

    (University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; Centre d’Estudis Jordi Nadal, Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

This paper analyses economic inequality in central Catalonia in the early 1720s using the information contained in cadastral tax records. The data set includes 2617 male taxpayers distributed across 17 rural villages. We take advantage of the large amount of information provided by the cadastre to study economic inequality in a pre-industrial society by looking at both wealth and income inequality. Compared to previous work on Western Europe, our results generally show high levels of inequality in rural Catalonia. However, inequality seems to be lower among those groups engaged in non-agricultural activities. Then, and given the traditional presence of proto-industrial activities in this area of Catalonia, we explore the efect of protoindustrial wool specialization on levels of inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Julio Martinez-Galarraga & Marc Prat, 2025. "Inequality in rural Catalonia in the early eighteenth century," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 19(1), pages 195-247, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:afc:cliome:v:19:y:2025:i:1:p:195-247
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-024-00289-0
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    Keywords

    Inequality · Early Modern · Catalonia · Wealth · Income · Protoindustrialization;

    JEL classification:

    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N63 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N93 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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