Bibtex export
@article{ Bukowski2021, title = {Between communism and capitalism: long-term inequality in Poland, 1892-2015}, author = {Bukowski, Paweł and Novokmet, Filip}, journal = {Journal of Economic Growth}, number = {2}, pages = {187-239}, volume = {26}, year = {2021}, issn = {1573-7020}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-021-09190-1}, urn = {https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-81484-7}, abstract = {We construct the first consistent series on the long-term distribution of income in Poland by combining tax, household survey and national accounts data. We document a U-shaped evolution of inequalities from the end of the nineteenth century until today: (1) inequality was high before WWII; (2) abruptly fell after the introduction of communism in 1947 and stagnated at low levels during the whole communist period; (3) experienced a sharp rise with the return to capitalism in 1989. We find that official survey-based measures strongly under-estimate the rise in inequality since 1989. Our results highlight the prominent role of capital income in driving the U-shaped evolution of top income shares. The unique inequality history of Poland speaks to the central role of institutions and policies in shaping inequality in the long run.}, keywords = {transformation; post-socialist country; capitalism; Polen; Kapitalismus; Transformation; Einkommensunterschied; difference in income; Poland; communism; Kommunismus; social inequality; postsozialistisches Land; Ungleichheit; soziale Ungleichheit; inequality}}