This book investigates the historical evolution of egalitarianism and the economic mechanisms that produce inequality in modern society. Henry Phelps Brown, a distinguished economist, utilizes a comparative statistical framework to evaluate the tension between the philosophical ideal of equality and the practical outcomes of economic policy. By examining data from the Renaissance to the contemporary era, the author assesses how social structures and market forces interact to shape the distribution of wealth and income.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of economic history and social stratification. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous foundation for understanding the long-term trends of wealth distribution.