Long-term trends in income inequality: Winners and losers of economic change in Ghana, 1891–1960

This paper contributes to a growing literature on long-term trends and drivers of pre-industrial inequality by providing new stylized facts the evolution income in Ghana from 1891 1960. Using newly constructed social tables, we estimate Gini coefficient for seven consecutive decades at time which adoption expansion cocoa cultivation transformed Ghanaian economy. Income was already high 1891, prior spread cultivation, it remained stable four decades. Following small decline early 1930s, increased, reaching its highest level end colonial era. The increasing incomes contributed persistent levels until 1930s. By contrast, increase 1930 1960 largely due rising government employees, skilled workers, commercial workers.