RISING INEQUALITY: TRENDS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN INDUSTRIALIZING NEW ENGLAND
研究了1820-1900年美国工业化时期新英格兰地区财富不平等趋势，发现不平等在1820-1850年和1870-1900年加剧，主要源于人口结构变化及职业、年龄组内部差异，并排除了劳动力市场解释和子女赡养假说。
This article assembles new data and methods for studying wealth inequality trends in industrializing America. Inequality grew sharply between 1820 and 1850, leveled off, and increased steadily between 1870 and 1900. Inequality grew due to compositional changes in the population, but also grew within occupations, age groups, and the native-born population. Proposed labor-market explanations are inconsistent with the fact that wealth inequality between occupational groups was declining. Wealth accumulation patterns are also inconsistent with the hypothesis of child default on responsibilities for old-age care. We propose research on a new explanation based on luck, rents, and entrepreneurship.