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The intergenerational effects of a large wealth shock: White southerners after the Civil War

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  • Ager, Philipp
  • Boustan, Leah
  • Eriksson, Katherine

Abstract

The nullification of slave-based wealth after the US Civil War (1861-65) was one of the largest episodes of wealth compression in history. We document that white southern households with more slave assets lost substantially more wealth by 1870 relative to households with otherwise similar pre-War wealth levels. Yet, the sons of these slaveholders recovered in income and wealth proxies by 1880, in part by shifting into white collar positions and marrying into higher status families. Their pattern of recovery is most consistent with the importance of social networks in facilitating employment opportunities and access to credit.

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  • Ager, Philipp & Boustan, Leah & Eriksson, Katherine, 2019. "The intergenerational effects of a large wealth shock: White southerners after the Civil War," CEPR Discussion Papers 13660, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:13660
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    JEL classification:

    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N91 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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