Where Is the Middle Class? Evidence from 60 Million English Death and Probate Records, 1892–1992

This article analyzes a newly constructed individual level dataset of every English death and probate from 1892–1992. analysis shows that the twentieth century’s “Great Equalization” wealth stalled in mid-century. The rate, which captures proportion holding any significant at rose 10 percent 1890s to 40 by 1950 has stagnated 1992. Despite large declines share top 1 percent, 73 20 median died with almost nothing throughout. All changes inequality after involve reshuffling within 30 percent. I translate data synthetic households; majority have least one member probated. Yet bottom 60 households hold only 12 all wealth, their peak wealth-holding level, early 1990s. also compare new existing estimates shares, home-ownership trends, survey distributions, aggregate Gini coefficient.