Well-being Inequality in the Long Run

Arbeitspapier

This paper provides a long-run view of well-being inequality at world scale based on a new historical dataset. Trends in social dimensions alter the view on inequality derived from per capita GDP. While in terms of income, inequality increased until the third quarter of the twentieth century; in terms of well-being, inequality fell steadily since World War I. The spread of mass primary education and the health transitions were its main drivers. The gap between the West and the Rest explains only partially the evolution of well-being inequality, as the dispersion within the developing regions has increasingly determined its evolution.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: EHES Working Papers in Economic History ; No. 131

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health, Education, and Welfare: General ; Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: General, International, or Comparative ; Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration ; Economywide Country Studies: General
• Subject: Well-being ; Inequality ; Life Expectancy ; Health Transition ; Education ; per capita GDP

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Prados de la Escosura, Leandro
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): European Historical Economics Society (EHES)
• (where): s.l.
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/247061
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET