Top incomes, natural resources, and populism. Colombian inequality in the Latin American mirror (1938-1988)

Authors

  • Javier E. Rodríguez Weber Universidad de la República (Montevideo, Uruguay)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33231/j.ihe.2022.05.001

Keywords:

Inequality, Colombia, Populism, Natural resources, D31, N36, N56, P48

Abstract

The paper makes three primary contributions. First, it presents an alternative method of estimating income inequality, one based on dynamic social tables, that allows measuring top incomes shares when fiscal records are not available. The second contribution is the series of estimations themselves, which are included in the statistical appendix. Third, it presents a comparative historical analysis of the results. Overall, it concludes that the rise in coffee prices in Colombia during and after World War II primarily benefited landowners and thus resulted in an increase in the income share of the top 1% as well as in total inequality. The comparative analysis suggests that the trend, which differentiates Colombia from other Latin American countries, was the result of the nation’s lack of populism.

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Published

2022-09-28

How to Cite

Rodríguez Weber, J. E. (2022). Top incomes, natural resources, and populism. Colombian inequality in the Latin American mirror (1938-1988). Investigaciones De Historia Económica, 18(3), 195–205. https://doi.org/10.33231/j.ihe.2022.05.001

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Section

ARTICLES