华盛顿公平增长中心-美国的财富和财产税（英）-2023.7-204页_39mb

This paper analyzes the history and geography of wealth accumulation in the United States using newly compiled property tax data from the 1800s to the 1930s. It examines how wealth evolved over time, the persistence of spatial inequality, and the impact of factors such as the Civil War and historical slavery. Key findings include extraordinary wealth growth after the Civil War, driven by capital accumulation in Northern and Western regions, while the South stagnated due to reliance on slavery and post-war policies. Spatial inequality remained high and persistent, with slow convergence in wealth accumulation, particularly in Southern states. Factors like climate, literacy rates, and occupational structure correlate with initial wealth levels and subsequent growth. The study highlights the moral and methodological issues in valuing enslaved people as property and underscores the role of institutional factors, such as tax policies and Jim Crow laws, in hindering economic development in the South. Overall, the paper provides valuable insights into the long-term effects of historical policies on wealth inequality and economic divergence in the US.

Key points:

• Wealth accumulation was rapid after the Civil War but uneven across regions.
• Spatial inequality was driven by Southern states, with slow convergence.
• Enslaved people were assessed as property, skewing data and perpetuating inequality.
• Factors like geography, demographics, and economic structure shaped wealth outcomes.
• The legacy of slavery and Reconstruction policies had lasting effects on regional development.