The intergenerational effects of a large wealth shock: White southerners after the Civil War

Philipp Ager, Leah Boustan and Katherine Eriksson ()

No 13660, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The nullification of slave-based wealth after the US Civil War (1861-65) was one of the largest episodes of wealth compression in history. We document that white southern households with more slave assets lost substantially more wealth by 1870 relative to households with otherwise similar pre-War wealth levels. Yet, the sons of these slaveholders recovered in income and wealth proxies by 1880, in part by shifting into white collar positions and marrying into higher status families. Their pattern of recovery is most consistent with the importance of social networks in facilitating employment opportunities and access to credit.

JEL-codes: J62 N31 N91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Intergenerational Effects of a Large Wealth Shock: White Southerners after the Civil War (2021)
Working Paper: The Intergenerational Effects of a Large Wealth Shock: White Southerners After the Civil War (2019)
Working Paper: The Intergenerational Effects of a Large Wealth Shock: White Southerners after the Civil War (2019)
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