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Kuznets at -7000: is there a really long-term relationship between growth and inequality?

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  • Timothy A. Kohler
  • Adam Green
  • Scott G. Ortman

Abstract

We use archaeological data on house sizes to generate estimates for economic inequality and economic growth from near the beginning of the Holocene to about the first millennium AD. At worldwide scales these variables are positively related, but patterns are more divergent at regional levels. Cross-sectional regression shows that the formation of central-place hierarchies and development of landesque capital are important in generating both wealth and wealth inequality; development of farming is also important to the generation of wealth.

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  • Timothy A. Kohler & Adam Green & Scott G. Ortman, 2025. "Kuznets at -7000: is there a really long-term relationship between growth and inequality?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2025-16, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2025-16
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Seher Gülşah Topuz, 2022. "The Relationship Between Income Inequality and Economic Growth: Are Transmission Channels Effective?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1177-1231, August.
    2. David N. Weil & Oded Galor, 2000. "Population, Technology, and Growth: From Malthusian Stagnation to the Demographic Transition and Beyond," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(4), pages 806-828, September.
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