Income and wealth inequality in the Netherlands 16th-20th century

Description

Over het boekThe 39;39;new inequality39;39; of the 198039;39;s and 199039;39;s has recently given rise to a lively debate about the relationship between economic growth and income distribution. This debate is the background of the study by Lee Soltow an Jan Luiten van Zanden, who, staying close to the sources, have mapped in some detail the long-term development of income and wealth inequality in the Netherlands between c. 1500 and the present.Their starting point is the hypothesis of Simon Kuznets that income inequality increased during the first phase of modern economic growth, but that in the second phase, which begins in most Western countries around the turn of the twentieth century, a marked levelling out of income differences followed. The development of inequality during the Golden Age, when growth resulted in a marked increase in inequality seems to confirm this idea. However, the analysis of the connection between growth and inequality in the nineteenth and twentieth century leads them to question the Kuznets hypothesis.Lee Soltow is professor of Economics at Ohio University Athens.Among his publications on the subject are 39;39;Distribution of wealth and income in the United States in 197839;39; 1989 and 39;39;Men and wealth in the United States 1850-187039;39; 1975.Jan Luiten van Zanden is professor of Economic and Social History at Utrecht University the Netherlands.Among his publications on the subject are 39;39;The economic history of the Netherlands 1914-1955 a small open economy in the 39;39;long39;39; twentieth century39;39; 1998. 39;39;The economic development of the Netherlands since 187039;39; 1996 and 39;39;The rise and decline of Holland39;39;s economy merchant capitalism and the labour market39;39; 1993.