Income Level and Income Inequality in the Euro-Mediterranean Region: From the Principate to the Islamic Conquest

37 Pages Posted: 16 May 2013

See all articles by Branko Milanovic

Branko Milanovic

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG); University of Maryland

Date Written: May 16, 2013

Abstract

Was the Euro-Mediterranean region at the time of the Roman empire and its Western successor states, more unequal than the European Union is today? We use some scant evidence on personal income distribution within the Empire and differences in average regional incomes to conclude that the Empire was more homogeneous, in terms of regional incomes, than today's EU, and inter-personal inequality was low. Moreover, income inequality was likely less around year 700 than in Augustus's time. The latter finding contrasts with a view of rising inequality as the Western Roman Empire dissolved.

Keywords: Roman Empire, inequality, regional gaps, Europe

JEL Classification: N3, N33, N9

Suggested Citation

Milanovic, Branko, Income Level and Income Inequality in the Euro-Mediterranean Region: From the Principate to the Islamic Conquest (May 16, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2265877 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2265877

Branko Milanovic (Contact Author)

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-473-6968 (Phone)
202-522-1153 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://econ.worldbank.org/staff/bmilanovic

University of Maryland ( email )

College Park
College Park, MD 20742
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
124
Abstract Views
841
Rank
409,760
PlumX Metrics