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Wars, Depression, and Fascism: Income Inequality in Italy, 1900-1950

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Gomez Leon

    (Universitat de Valencia)

  • Giacomo Gabbuti

    (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Istituto di Economia)

Abstract

This paper presents yearly estimates of income inequality in Italy from 1900 to 1950. By constructing dynamic social tables, we comprehensively assess inequality across all components of Italian society and compare Italy with Britain, Germany, and Spain over the same period. In a context of declining inequality across Europe, interwar Italy reveals a trajectory at odds with the narratives on the interwar period: a strong increase of inequality during WWI, markedly reversed during 1918-1922, resumed after the March on Rome, and reaching new peaks during WWII. Indeed, while allowing us to reveal sizeable short-term distributive shocks in Italy and to discuss the political economy of fascist Italy, our results consolidate the reinterpretation of inequality trends in interwar Europe and the regressive nature of fascist regimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Gomez Leon & Giacomo Gabbuti, 2024. "Wars, Depression, and Fascism: Income Inequality in Italy, 1900-1950," Documentos de Trabajo EH-Valencia (DT-EHV) 2401, Economic History group at the Universitat de Valencia.
    • Handle: RePEc:bci:wpaper:2401
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fascist Italy; income inequality; interwar Europe; dynamic social tables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E25 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Aggregate Factor Income Distribution
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-

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