Income Distribution in Historical Perspective

Considers some central long-term issues raised by the problem of income distribution. The Kruznets curve is central to much of the analysis, and its relevance is discussed in a series of articles covering the British, Belgian, German, Australian, Austrian and American experiences.

In this volume a distinguished team of international contributors consider some of the central long-term issues raised by the problem of income distribution. The Kuznets curve - i.e. the notion that income distribution became increasingly unequal during the period of industrialisation, and progressively less unequal during the drive to maturity - lies at the centre of much of the analysis, and its relevance is discussed in a wide-ranging series of articles covering the British, Belgian, German, Australian, Austrian and American experiences. This volume is the first for many years to take such a broad, comparative approach to income distribution, and makes an important and authoritative contribution to an area of perennial debate.

List of figures
List of tables
Preface
1. Introduction Hartmut Kaelble and Mark Thomas
2. British inequality during the Industrial Revolution: accounting for the Kuznets curve Jeffrey G. Williamson
3. Wage differentials in Sweden, 1725-1950 Johan Soderberg
4. Industrial wage differentials in nineteenth-century Belgium Peter Scholliers
5. Income inequality and industrialization in Germany, 1850-1913: the Kuznets hypothesis re-examined Rolf Dumke
6. The evolution of inequality in Australia in the nineteenth century Mark Thomas
7. Gainful occupations and the inequality of pay: Vienna, 1780-1980 Michael Wagner
8. The distributional impact of the depression in the United States Ian W. McLean
9. Toward a comparative history of income and wealth inequality Peter H. Lindert
References
Index.