Unequal gains: American growth and inequality since 1700

Abstract

Adopting a new approach to historical data, Peter H Lindert and Jeffrey G Williamson have charted the history of American incomes ‐ and income inequality ‐ since colonial times. Here the authors of Unequal Gains explain their method, and share a rich harvest of findings that cast new light on three‐and‐a‐half centuries of economic history.