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Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies
Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613885936173056 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Pretorius, Jan-Hendrik |
| author2 | Fourie, Johan |
| author_browse | Fourie, Johan Pretorius, Jan-Hendrik |
| author_facet | Fourie, Johan Pretorius, Jan-Hendrik |
| author_sort | Pretorius, Jan-Hendrik |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132491 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:15.981Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132491 Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies Pretorius, Jan-Hendrik Fourie, Johan Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Economics. Distribution (Economic theory) -- South Africa Income distribution -- South Africa Social stratification -- South Africa Genealogy -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Inheritance and succession -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Pretorius, J. H. 2025. Inequality and the Persistence of Family Wealth: Evidence from South African Genealogies. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/560a470d-148a-47dd-9d68-2be0e77ff2fe ENGLISH SUMMARY: This thesis provides new insights into wealth mobility in the Cape Colony, South Africa, by examining inter- and multigenerational wealth persistence from the late 17th to mid-19th century, focusing on the Rossouw family, French Huguenots who settled in the colony in the late 1600s. Using genealogical records, tax census data, and auction results, the study explores how wealth was accumulated, transmitted across generations, and how marriage played a crucial role in maintaining elite status. Findings reveal a high degree of wealth persistence, with nearly half of a child’s wealth attributable to their father’s economic standing. Grandpaternal wealth also played a significant role, suggesting long-term transmission of economic advantage. Marital assortment reinforced inequality, with those marrying into prominent families experiencing a wealth increase, while others saw their wealth converge with broader colonial levels. Data were sourced from publicly accessible records, including the original Opgaafrolle from the Hague and Western Cape Archives, auction data from the MOOC10 series, and genealogical data from the Rousseau Rossouw Family Register, forming a solid foundation for analysis. This thesis addresses gaps in the literature on wealth mobility in colonial contexts, particularly in Southern Africa, a region often overlooked compared to European and American settings. Unlike previous studies that focus on two generations or rely on single-point wealth estimates, this research uses longitudinal wealth data and genealogical records to provide a more comprehensive view of wealth transmission. By integrating these data sources, the study offers more accurate estimates of wealth mobility and challenges conventional views of high mobility. The findings emphasise the key role of strategic marriages in shaping wealth across generations, contributing to a deeper understanding of wealth persistence in the Cape Colony and offering a framework for future studies on long-term wealth mobility. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bied nuwe insigte oor welvaartsmobiliteit in die Kaapkolonie, Suid-Afrika, deur interen multigenerasie-rykdomsvolharding van die laat 17de tot middel 19de eeu te ondersoek, met spesifieke fokus op die Rossouw-familie, Franse Hugenote wat hul in die laat 1600’s in die kolonie gevestig het. Deur genealogiese rekords, belastingopgawes en veilinguitslae te gebruik, verken die studie hoe rykdom opgehoop het, oor generasies heen oorgedra is, en hoe huwelike ’n bepalende rol gespeel het in die handhawing van elite-status. Bevindinge toon ’n hoe vlak van rykdomsvolharding, met bykans die helfte van ’n kind se rykdom wat toegeskryf kan word aan hul vader se ekonomiese posisie. Grootouers se rykdom het ook ’n beduidende rol gespeel, wat daarop dui dat ekonomiese voordele oor lang termyne oorgedra is. Huweliksassortering het ongelykheid versterk, waar die wat met prominente families getrou het, ’n toename in rykdom ervaar het, terwyl ander hul rykdom met breer koloniale vlakke sien ineenloop het. Data is verkry uit openbare bronne, insluitend die oorspronklike Opgaafrolle van die Haagse en Wes-Kaapse Argiewe, veilingdata uit die MOOC10-reeks, en genealogiese data uit die Rousseau/Rossouw Familie-register, wat ’n stewige basis vir die ontleding vorm. Hierdie tesis spreek leemtes aan in die literatuur oor welvaartssmobiliteit in koloniale kontekste, veral in Suider-Afrika, ’n streek wat dikwels oor die hoof gesien word in vergelyking met Europese en Amerikaanse kontekste. Anders as vorige studies wat op twee generasies fokus of enkelpunt-welvaartsberamings gebruik, maak hierdie navorsing gebruik van longitudinale rykdomsdata en genealogiese rekords om ’n meer omvattende blik op rykdomsoordrag te bied. Deur hierdie data te integreer, bied die studie meer akkurate beramings van welvaartssmobiliteit en daag dit konvensionele sienings van hoe mobiliteit uit. Die bevindinge beklemtoon die sleutelrol van strategiese huwelike in die vorming van rykdom oor generasies heen, wat bydra tot ’n dieper begrip van rykdomsvolharding in die Kaapkolonie en ’n raamwerk bied vir toekomstige studies oor langtermynwelvaartssmobiliteit. Masters 2025-06-10T05:46:37Z 2025-06-10T05:46:37Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132491 en_ZA Stellenbosch University iii, 76 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Distribution (Economic theory) -- South Africa Income distribution -- South Africa Social stratification -- South Africa Genealogy -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Inheritance and succession -- South Africa UCTD Pretorius, Jan-Hendrik Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies |
| title | Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies |
| title_full | Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies |
| title_fullStr | Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies |
| title_short | Inequality and the persistence of family wealth : evidence from South African genealogies |
| title_sort | inequality and the persistence of family wealth evidence from south african genealogies |
| topic | Distribution (Economic theory) -- South Africa Income distribution -- South Africa Social stratification -- South Africa Genealogy -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Inheritance and succession -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132491 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pretoriusjanhendrik inequalityandthepersistenceoffamilywealthevidencefromsouthafricangenealogies |