New Study Challenges Assumptions About Inequality in Complex Societies

Research analyzing 50,000 ancient houses over 10,000 years reveals that economic inequality is shaped by human decisions, not societal size or complexity.

The Field Museum study, published in PNAS on April 14, 2025, analyzed data from over 50,000 houses across 1,000 archaeological sites and six continents.
Findings challenge the long-held belief that larger, more complex societies inevitably lead to greater economic inequality.
Researchers used house size and decorative features as indicators of wealth, applying the Gini coefficient to measure inequality across time and regions.
The study highlights that human agency, governance, and institutional design have historically played critical roles in moderating economic disparities.
Results show significant variability in inequality trends across different societies, suggesting no universal or linear pattern over 10,000 years.