Inequality in Early Modern Spain: New evidence from the Ensenada Cadastre in Castile, c. 1750
Fernando Ramos-Palencia
Inequality in Early Modern Spain: New evidence from the Ensenada Cadastre in Castile, c. 1750 - Firenze University Press 2020
Open Access
This chapter addresses income inequality by offering new evidence based on the Ensenada Cadastre, a unique database on Castilian households circa 1750. We find that inequality in 18th-century Spain was substantial, especially in urban and/or highly populated areas. There was also a positive – but somewhat weaker – relationship not only between inequality and per capita income but also between inequality and poverty. We posit that extreme economic inequality was likely responsible for numerous episodes of social conflict. Finally, the extent of formalized charity and social spending was less than in other Western European regions.
Creative Commons
978-88-5518-053-5.18
10.36253/978-88-5518-053-5.18 doi
spanish economic history pre-industrial age Iberian peninsula economic inequality economic history
Inequality in Early Modern Spain: New evidence from the Ensenada Cadastre in Castile, c. 1750 - Firenze University Press 2020
Open Access
This chapter addresses income inequality by offering new evidence based on the Ensenada Cadastre, a unique database on Castilian households circa 1750. We find that inequality in 18th-century Spain was substantial, especially in urban and/or highly populated areas. There was also a positive – but somewhat weaker – relationship not only between inequality and per capita income but also between inequality and poverty. We posit that extreme economic inequality was likely responsible for numerous episodes of social conflict. Finally, the extent of formalized charity and social spending was less than in other Western European regions.
Creative Commons
978-88-5518-053-5.18
10.36253/978-88-5518-053-5.18 doi
spanish economic history pre-industrial age Iberian peninsula economic inequality economic history