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American Incomes Before and After the Revolution

Author

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  • Lindert, Peter H.
  • Williamson, Jeffrey G.

Abstract

Building social tables in the tradition of Gregory King, we develop new estimates suggesting that between 1774 and 1800 American incomes fell in real per capita terms. The colonial South was richer than the North at the start, but was already beginning to lose its income lead by 1800. We also find that free American colonists had much more equal incomes than did households in England and Wales. The colonists had greater purchasing power than their English counterparts over all of the income ranks except in the top percent.

Suggested Citation

  • Lindert, Peter H. & Williamson, Jeffrey G., 2013. "American Incomes Before and After the Revolution," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 73(3), pages 725-765, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:73:y:2013:i:03:p:725-765_00
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Was the American Revolution an Economic Disaster?
      by andrewdsmith in The Past Speaks on 2011-07-15 13:19:13

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    Cited by:

    1. Allen, Robert C., 2014. "American Exceptionalism as a Problem in Global History," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 74(2), pages 309-350, June.
    2. Chi Pui Ho, 2022. "Reconciling Reversal of Fortune in early United States Development within a Unified Growth Framework," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 23(2), pages 341-383, November.
    3. Andrew J. Seltzer, 2021. "Globalisation, migration, trade and growth: Honouring the contribution of Jeff Williamson to Australian and Asia‐Pacific economic history—Guest Editor's introduction," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(2), pages 128-135, July.
    4. Eric C. Edwards & Martin Fiszbein & Gary D. Libecap, 2022. "Property Rights to Land and Agricultural Organization: An Argentina–United States Comparison," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(S1), pages 1-33.
    5. David Krisztián Nagy, 2020. "Hinterlands, city formation and growth: evidence from the U.S. westward expansion," Economics Working Papers 1717, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    6. 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.
    7. Daniel Gros, 2020. "The Insurance Properties of Common Debt Issuance," EconPol Policy Reports 28, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    8. de Oliveira, Guilherme & Guerriero, Carmine, 2018. "Extractive states: The case of the Italian unification," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 142-159.
    9. Serrano, Joaquín & Benzaquén, Ivana, 2017. "La frontera de posibilidades de desigualdad en América Latina," El Trimestre Económico, Fondo de Cultura Económica, vol. 0(334), pages .427-461, abril-jun.
    10. Rosenbloom, Joshua L., 2018. "The Colonial American Economy," ISU General Staff Papers 201802270800001002, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    11. Johan Fourie & Frank Garmon, 2023. "The settlers’ fortunes: Comparing tax censuses in the Cape Colony and early American republic," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 76(2), pages 525-550, May.
    12. Catherine L. McDevitt & James R. Irwin, 2017. "Women's empowerment and economic growth: Albany, NY, 1760-1860," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 37(3), pages 2041-2052.
    13. van Bavel, Bas, 2016. "The Invisible Hand?: How Market Economies have Emerged and Declined Since AD 500," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199608133.
    14. Javier Rodríguez Weber, 2015. "The Political Economy of the Top 1% in an Age of Turbulence: Chile 1913-1973," Documentos de trabajo 41, Programa de Historia Económica, FCS, Udelar.
    15. Bonfatti, Roberto, 2017. "The sustainability of empire in a global perspective: The role of international trade patterns," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 137-156.
    16. Rosenbloom, Joshua L. & Weiss, Thomas, 2014. "Economic growth in the Mid-Atlantic region: Conjectural estimates for 1720 to 1800," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 41-59.
    17. Peter H. Lindert & Jeffrey G. Williamson, 2012. "American Incomes 1774-1860," NBER Working Papers 18396, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    18. Nikolić, Stefan & Novokmet, Filip & Larysz, Piotr Paweł, 2024. "Income inequality in Eastern Europe: Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia in the twentieth century," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    19. Maryaline Catillon & David Cutler & Thomas Getzen, 2018. "Two Hundred Years of Health and Medical Care: The Importance of Medical Care for Life Expectancy Gains," NBER Working Papers 25330, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    20. Silvia Secchi, 2025. "Who is an American farmer? Who counts in American agriculture?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(4), pages 2603-2613, December.
    21. Ho, Chi Pui, 2016. "GeoPopulation-Institution Hypothesis: Reconciling American Development Process and Reversal of Fortune within a Unified Growth Framework," MPRA Paper 73863, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N11 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N91 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O51 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - U.S.; Canada

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