Han Dynasty More Unequal Than Roman Empire: A Surprising New Study
A new study using modern economic tools to compare the economic conditions of the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire reveals a surprising finding: the Han Dynasty exhibited higher levels of economic inequality than the Roman Empire. Researchers discovered that the top 1% in Han China earned approximately 26% of total income, compared to 19% in the Roman Empire. While average income was slightly higher in the Roman Empire, the Han Dynasty's elite class extracted a staggering 80% of the economy, far exceeding the Roman's 69%. This high extraction rate, the researchers suggest, may have contributed to the dynasty's eventual downfall. This research challenges conventional wisdom about ancient imperial economies and offers fresh insights into historical economic inequality.