MENU

WEALTH IN SPAIN, 1900-2017: A COUNTRY OF TWO LANDS

Blanco, Miguel Artola; Bauluz, Luis; Martinez-Toledano, Clara

ECONOMIC JOURNAL
2021
VL / 131 - BP / 129 - EP / 155
abstract
This study reconstructs Spain's national wealth from 1900 to 2017. By combining new sources with existing accounts, we estimate the wealth of both private and government sectors and use a new asset-specific decomposition of the long-run accumulation of wealth. We find that, during the twentieth century, the national wealth-to-income ratio remained within a relatively narrow range-between 400% and 600%-until the housing boom of the early 2000s led to an unprecedented rise to 800% in 2007. Our results highlight the importance of land, housing capital gains and international capital flows as key elements of wealth accumulation.

AccesS level

MENTIONS DATA