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Long-term trends in income and wealth inequality in southern Italy. The Kingdom of Naples (Apulia), sixteenth to eighteenth centuries

Author

Listed:
  • Guido Alfani

    (Bocconi University [Milan, Italy], Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality, Stone Center on Wealth Inequality and Social Mobility, WIL - World Inequality Lab)

  • Sergio Sardone

    (University of Naples Federico II = Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II)

Abstract

This paper uses new archival sources to study the long-term tendencies in economic inequality in preindustrial southern Italy (Kingdom of Naples). The paper reconstructs long-term trends in wealth inequality for the period 1550-1800 for a sample of communities in the region Apulia and produces estimates of overall inequality levels across the region. These estimates are compared with those which have recently been published for other Italian and European regions or states. The article also reconstructs the total income distribution for the mid-eighteenth century, then comparing wealth and income inequality. Overall, the evidence for the Kingdom of Naples suggests a tendency for economic inequality to grow continuously over the early modern period. As this was mostly a period of economic stagnation or decline for the Kingdom, the article provides further insights to the debate on the long-run relationship between economic growth and inequality change.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Alfani & Sergio Sardone, 2024. "Long-term trends in income and wealth inequality in southern Italy. The Kingdom of Naples (Apulia), sixteenth to eighteenth centuries," Working Papers halshs-04753512, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-04753512
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04753512v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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