We analyzed the distribution and concentration of the wealth in 678 inventories of two localities (Iguape and Xiririca) of the Valley of Ribeira, São Paulo, opened between the years of 1800 and 1880. At first, we distinguished the distribution of the gross wealth (sum of all the property and assets belonging to the inventoried) and of the liquid wealth (gross wealth deduced the passive debts). This as standard places the position of 64% of the patrimonies, highlighting about 10% whose liquid wealth showed negative. Using as reference the economic activity tied with the inventoried, we evaluated the impact of the use of the two measures in the distribution of the wealth and proposed the use of the Gini coefficient which makes possible the incorporation of these negative values.
wealth distribution; wealth concentration measures; Gini coefficient; negative liquid wealth; inventories
