(2021) Gómez León, María; Gabbuti, Giacomo; Ekonomia; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE; Economía
This paper documents new yearly estimates of income inequality in Italy
from 1900 to 1950. By constructing dynamic social tables, we obtain the first
comprehensive assessment of all major components of Italian society, as well as to
consistent comparable inequality estimates to those available for Britain, Germany
and Spain. In line with other European countries, Italy shows short-term inequality
changes during this period. We identify a steep decline in inequality in Italy
(especially within-labour) after WWI, followed by a reversal between 1922 and 1931, a relative stability, and a further increase during WWII, this time driven by
capital income.
