Judiciary and Wealth in the Ottoman Empire, 1689–1843

Zeynep Dörtok Abacı, Jun Akiba, Metin Cosgel () and Boğaç Ergene
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Zeynep Dörtok Abacı: Bursa Uludağ University
Jun Akiba: The University of Tokyo
Boğaç Ergene: University of Vermont

No 2022-02, Working papers from University of Connecticut, Department of Economics

Abstract: This article examines the accumulation, temporal variation, and intergroup inequality of wealth in the Ottoman judiciary between the late seventeenth and early nineteenth centuries, based on information from the estate inventories (terekes) found in Istanbul’s kısmet-i askeriye registers. After calculating the gross and net real wealth of the judges at the time of death, we compare them against contemporary economic indicators, which show moderate to modest levels of wealth accumulation. Whereas the levels of mean gross wealth varied significantly between certain groups of the judiciary, no such variations were observed in net wealth. Factors contributing to the variations of wealth levels included the bequest motive and family connections to other members of the judiciary. Wealth levels dropped drastically in the latter part of the eighteenth century, a consequence of the financial strains the Ottoman Empire experienced during this period.

Keywords: Ottoman; estate inventories; terekes; judiciary; wealth; inequality; kısmet-i askeriye (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 E21 G51 H55 J30 K40 M52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 43 pages
Date: 2022-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his and nep-mac
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uct:uconnp:2022-02

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