The Great Leveler by Walter Scheidel Summary

The Great Leveler argues that significant reductions in economic inequality throughout history have only occurred through violent upheavals like wars, revolutions, state collapses, and pandemics. Walter Scheidel identifies these as the "Four Horsemen of Leveling," demonstrating how catastrophic events disrupt wealth concentration. The book spans prehistoric societies to modern economies, challenging the idea that peaceful reforms can achieve lasting equality.

This book is essential for historians, economists, and policymakers interested in the cyclical nature of inequality. It also appeals to readers seeking a data-driven analysis of how crises reshape societies. Scheidel’s interdisciplinary approach bridges economic history, political science, and sociology, making it valuable for academics and informed general audiences alike.

Yes—Scheidel’s rigorous research and global historical scope provide a compelling, if grim, perspective on inequality. While the focus on violence may unsettle some, the book’s evidence-based arguments (e.g., World Wars, the Black Death) offer critical insights into socioeconomic patterns. It’s particularly recommended for those exploring alternatives to Thomas Piketty’s views on inequality.

Scheidel’s "Four Horsemen" are mass mobilization warfare (e.g., World Wars), transformative revolutions (e.g., Bolshevik Revolution), state collapse (e.g., fall of the Roman Empire), and lethal pandemics (e.g., Black Death). These events forcibly redistribute wealth by destroying elites’ assets, disrupting institutions, or reducing labor supply. Historically, they are the only proven drivers of significant equality gains.

Scheidel argues Piketty oversimplifies war’s role in reducing inequality by generalizing France’s WWI experience to other nations. While Piketty emphasizes capital taxation, Scheidel asserts that violent shocks—not policy—are the primary historical equalizers. However, both agree that peace and stability tend to increase wealth concentration over time.

Key examples include:

• World Wars: Reduced top income shares in Europe via destruction, inflation, and progressive taxation.
• Black Death: Labor shortages raised wages for peasants in medieval Europe.
• Communist Revolutions: Eliminated private wealth in Russia and China through forced redistribution.

While Scheidel observes that violence has been the primary driver of leveling, he questions whether modern societies can achieve equality peacefully. He acknowledges the moral repugnance of past methods but warns that without systemic reforms, inequality may persist or worsen.

Critics argue Scheidel underestimates peaceful reforms’ potential (e.g., New Deal policies) and overemphasizes Western examples. Some note that the "Four Horsemen" framework ignores cultural and technological factors influencing inequality. Others question its pessimistic outlook for contemporary policy solutions.

The book focuses on material wealth disparities within societies, measured through metrics like Gini coefficients and top income shares. It examines asset ownership, income distribution, and access to resources rather than social or political inequality.

Yes—Scheidel’s analysis clarifies why recent inequality trends (e.g., post-1980 wealth concentration) align with historical patterns of stability favoring elites. It raises urgent questions about climate change, pandemics, and political instability as potential future "levelers".

Collapsed states (e.g., Mayan civilization, post-Soviet Russia) destroy centralized wealth networks, erase debt records, and eliminate elite-controlled institutions. This resets economic hierarchies but often leads to chaos rather than sustainable equality.

Scheidel is skeptical of nonviolent solutions but speculates that universal basic income, inheritance taxes, or technological disruptions might help. However, he stresses that no peaceful method has yet matched the equalizing impact of the "Four Horsemen".