Guido Alfani
@guidoalfani.bsky.social
Economic historian & Historical demographer at Bocconi University, Milan. Affiliated scholar of the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality, NY.
Working on the history of inequality and social mobility and on the history of pandemics & other catastrophes
Working on the history of inequality and social mobility and on the history of pandemics & other catastrophes
Reposted by Guido Alfani
🎙️ A new episode of Dondena Decode is out!
📌Nicoletta Balbo interviews Léa Pessin, on how AI-generated images can help us explore how individuals perceive, and react to, specific situations! @bocconi.bsky.social
🎧Listen at: open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
📌Nicoletta Balbo interviews Léa Pessin, on how AI-generated images can help us explore how individuals perceive, and react to, specific situations! @bocconi.bsky.social
🎧Listen at: open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
Dondena Decode - Episode 7
open.spotify.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:39 AM
🎙️ A new episode of Dondena Decode is out!
📌Nicoletta Balbo interviews Léa Pessin, on how AI-generated images can help us explore how individuals perceive, and react to, specific situations! @bocconi.bsky.social
🎧Listen at: open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
📌Nicoletta Balbo interviews Léa Pessin, on how AI-generated images can help us explore how individuals perceive, and react to, specific situations! @bocconi.bsky.social
🎧Listen at: open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
open.spotify.com/episode/4yiy...
Glad to announce that the Dondena Annual Lecture 2025 is now online: delivered by Nobel laureate James Robinson, on the topic "Democracy in the 21st Century. Hierarchy, Egalitarianism and the Struggle over New Institutions"
@dondenacentre.bsky.social 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1A1...
@dondenacentre.bsky.social 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1A1...
Dondena Annual Lecture 2025 - Democracy in the 21st Century
YouTube video by Bocconi University
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Glad to announce that the Dondena Annual Lecture 2025 is now online: delivered by Nobel laureate James Robinson, on the topic "Democracy in the 21st Century. Hierarchy, Egalitarianism and the Struggle over New Institutions"
@dondenacentre.bsky.social 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1A1...
@dondenacentre.bsky.social 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1A1...
Reposted by Guido Alfani
🎙️ New episode of Dondena Decode is out!
📌 In this episode, Valeria Giacomin interviews Leandro Prados de la Escosura, who talks to us about economic freedom and well-being, and how they have evolved over time.
🎧 Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/68FN...
#DondenaDecode #Podcast
📌 In this episode, Valeria Giacomin interviews Leandro Prados de la Escosura, who talks to us about economic freedom and well-being, and how they have evolved over time.
🎧 Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/68FN...
#DondenaDecode #Podcast
Dondena Decode - Episode 6
open.spotify.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
🎙️ New episode of Dondena Decode is out!
📌 In this episode, Valeria Giacomin interviews Leandro Prados de la Escosura, who talks to us about economic freedom and well-being, and how they have evolved over time.
🎧 Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/68FN...
#DondenaDecode #Podcast
📌 In this episode, Valeria Giacomin interviews Leandro Prados de la Escosura, who talks to us about economic freedom and well-being, and how they have evolved over time.
🎧 Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/68FN...
#DondenaDecode #Podcast
In this episode of the Dondena Decode podcast I have the honour of interviewing Nobel laureate James Robinson on the reasons why modern democracy is proving to be a fragile institution, on the importance of studying the past, on the consequences of getting a Nobel...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
Dondena Decode - Episode 5
open.spotify.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In this episode of the Dondena Decode podcast I have the honour of interviewing Nobel laureate James Robinson on the reasons why modern democracy is proving to be a fragile institution, on the importance of studying the past, on the consequences of getting a Nobel...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
open.spotify.com/episode/4CqO...
Oggi sul Sole 24 Ore: un mio articolo sulla distribuzione del reddito in tempi di rivoluzione tecnologica. Durante la Rivoluzione Industriale, le classi lavoratrici dovettero attendere un secolo prima d’iniziare a beneficiare del progresso. Sarà diverso con l'IA?
www.ilsole24ore.com/art/redistri...
www.ilsole24ore.com/art/redistri...
Redistribuire il reddito in tempi di rivoluzione tecnologica
Oggi l’attenzione tende a focalizzarsi sulla crescita senza domandarsi chi beneficerà dello sviluppo economico futuro
www.ilsole24ore.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Oggi sul Sole 24 Ore: un mio articolo sulla distribuzione del reddito in tempi di rivoluzione tecnologica. Durante la Rivoluzione Industriale, le classi lavoratrici dovettero attendere un secolo prima d’iniziare a beneficiare del progresso. Sarà diverso con l'IA?
www.ilsole24ore.com/art/redistri...
www.ilsole24ore.com/art/redistri...
There is still time to apply for the 2026 Datini-Ester seminar on "Craft Guilds & Unions"! All PhD students working on these topics are welcome to apply! Join us in beautiful Prato (Tuscany) for this funded experience! (deadline November 15)
www.istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
www.istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
October 21, 2025 at 7:22 AM
There is still time to apply for the 2026 Datini-Ester seminar on "Craft Guilds & Unions"! All PhD students working on these topics are welcome to apply! Join us in beautiful Prato (Tuscany) for this funded experience! (deadline November 15)
www.istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
www.istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
Grazie a @wired.it per avermi invitato al Wired Next Fest Trentino 2025, a discutere di ricchi e concentrazione della ricchezza con Emiliano Audisio👇
www.wired.it/video/watch/...
www.wired.it/video/watch/...
Guido Alfani a Wired Next Fest 2025: “Troppi ricchi oggi? In passato abbiamo visto di peggio”
www.wired.it
October 10, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Grazie a @wired.it per avermi invitato al Wired Next Fest Trentino 2025, a discutere di ricchi e concentrazione della ricchezza con Emiliano Audisio👇
www.wired.it/video/watch/...
www.wired.it/video/watch/...
Next Monday (Oct 6) the two-days conference "Inequality & History" will begin, hosted by @dondenacentre.bsky.social at Bocconi University (Milan). Join us to explore & debate inequality across history, from Classical Antiquity until today! Remote attendance possible; QR code in the program below👇
October 3, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Next Monday (Oct 6) the two-days conference "Inequality & History" will begin, hosted by @dondenacentre.bsky.social at Bocconi University (Milan). Join us to explore & debate inequality across history, from Classical Antiquity until today! Remote attendance possible; QR code in the program below👇
Reposted by Guido Alfani
🎙️ New episode of Dondena Decode!
In this episode, Sonia Schifano (Bocconi University) interviews Fabian Drixler from Yale University on his research between climate and economy in history!!
📷 Listen at: 👉
open.spotify.com/episode/0YDR...
In this episode, Sonia Schifano (Bocconi University) interviews Fabian Drixler from Yale University on his research between climate and economy in history!!
📷 Listen at: 👉
open.spotify.com/episode/0YDR...
Dondena Decode - Episode 4
open.spotify.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:52 PM
🎙️ New episode of Dondena Decode!
In this episode, Sonia Schifano (Bocconi University) interviews Fabian Drixler from Yale University on his research between climate and economy in history!!
📷 Listen at: 👉
open.spotify.com/episode/0YDR...
In this episode, Sonia Schifano (Bocconi University) interviews Fabian Drixler from Yale University on his research between climate and economy in history!!
📷 Listen at: 👉
open.spotify.com/episode/0YDR...
I am proud to announce that my book "As Gods Among Men. A History of the Rich in the West" has been awarded the Ranki Biennial Prize by the Economic History Association!😊👇
October 2, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I am proud to announce that my book "As Gods Among Men. A History of the Rich in the West" has been awarded the Ranki Biennial Prize by the Economic History Association!😊👇
The recording of the Tawney Lecture on "Economic Inequality and Social Mobility in Preindustrial Societies", which I had the honour to deliver in Glasgow last spring, is now online! Thanks
@echistsoc.bsky.social for inviting me.
ehs.org.uk/multimedia/t...
@echistsoc.bsky.social for inviting me.
ehs.org.uk/multimedia/t...
Tawney Lecture 2025: Economic inequality and social mobility in preindustrial societies - Economic History Society
ehs.org.uk
September 26, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The recording of the Tawney Lecture on "Economic Inequality and Social Mobility in Preindustrial Societies", which I had the honour to deliver in Glasgow last spring, is now online! Thanks
@echistsoc.bsky.social for inviting me.
ehs.org.uk/multimedia/t...
@echistsoc.bsky.social for inviting me.
ehs.org.uk/multimedia/t...
Reposted by Guido Alfani
🎙️ New episode of Dondena Decode!
How might climate change impact our health and the spread of infectious diseases? 🌍🦠
In this episode, Mattia Fochesato interviews @joacimrocklov.bsky.social (Heidelberg Institute of Global Health & IWR).
👉 Listen here:
open.spotify.com/episode/0YZh...
How might climate change impact our health and the spread of infectious diseases? 🌍🦠
In this episode, Mattia Fochesato interviews @joacimrocklov.bsky.social (Heidelberg Institute of Global Health & IWR).
👉 Listen here:
open.spotify.com/episode/0YZh...
Dondena Decode - Episode 3
open.spotify.com
September 16, 2025 at 10:28 AM
🎙️ New episode of Dondena Decode!
How might climate change impact our health and the spread of infectious diseases? 🌍🦠
In this episode, Mattia Fochesato interviews @joacimrocklov.bsky.social (Heidelberg Institute of Global Health & IWR).
👉 Listen here:
open.spotify.com/episode/0YZh...
How might climate change impact our health and the spread of infectious diseases? 🌍🦠
In this episode, Mattia Fochesato interviews @joacimrocklov.bsky.social (Heidelberg Institute of Global Health & IWR).
👉 Listen here:
open.spotify.com/episode/0YZh...
Reposted by Guido Alfani
Now on Early View: 'Wealth inequality and epidemics in the Republic of Venice (1400–1800)'.
By Guido Alfani, Matteo Di Tullio & Mattia Fochesato.
@guidoalfani.bsky.social @stone-lis.bsky.social
@uni-of-warwick.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
By Guido Alfani, Matteo Di Tullio & Mattia Fochesato.
@guidoalfani.bsky.social @stone-lis.bsky.social
@uni-of-warwick.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
<em>The Economic History Review</em> | EHS Journal | Wiley Online Library
This article analyses wealth inequality in the Republic of Venice during 1400–1800. The availability of a large database of homogeneous inequality measurements allows us to produce the most in-depth ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Now on Early View: 'Wealth inequality and epidemics in the Republic of Venice (1400–1800)'.
By Guido Alfani, Matteo Di Tullio & Mattia Fochesato.
@guidoalfani.bsky.social @stone-lis.bsky.social
@uni-of-warwick.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
By Guido Alfani, Matteo Di Tullio & Mattia Fochesato.
@guidoalfani.bsky.social @stone-lis.bsky.social
@uni-of-warwick.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Guido Alfani
We are delighted to announce the 2025 Dondena Lecture ! 🎉
@bocconi.bsky.social
📌 Democracy in the 21st Century: Hierarchy, Egalitarianism and the Struggle over New Institutions
🗓️ 22 Sept 2025 | 6:15–7:45 PM
📍 Aula Manfredini
🎤 James Robinson, Nobel Laureate in ES 2024
🔗 Registration required
@bocconi.bsky.social
📌 Democracy in the 21st Century: Hierarchy, Egalitarianism and the Struggle over New Institutions
🗓️ 22 Sept 2025 | 6:15–7:45 PM
📍 Aula Manfredini
🎤 James Robinson, Nobel Laureate in ES 2024
🔗 Registration required
September 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
We are delighted to announce the 2025 Dondena Lecture ! 🎉
@bocconi.bsky.social
📌 Democracy in the 21st Century: Hierarchy, Egalitarianism and the Struggle over New Institutions
🗓️ 22 Sept 2025 | 6:15–7:45 PM
📍 Aula Manfredini
🎤 James Robinson, Nobel Laureate in ES 2024
🔗 Registration required
@bocconi.bsky.social
📌 Democracy in the 21st Century: Hierarchy, Egalitarianism and the Struggle over New Institutions
🗓️ 22 Sept 2025 | 6:15–7:45 PM
📍 Aula Manfredini
🎤 James Robinson, Nobel Laureate in ES 2024
🔗 Registration required
The call for the 2026 Datini-Ester seminar "From Craft Guilds to Unions" is now open! All PhD students working on these topics are welcome to apply! Join us in beautiful Prato (Tuscany) for this great experience! (deadline October 15)
istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
July 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The call for the 2026 Datini-Ester seminar "From Craft Guilds to Unions" is now open! All PhD students working on these topics are welcome to apply! Join us in beautiful Prato (Tuscany) for this great experience! (deadline October 15)
istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
istitutodatini.it/ester/htm/ca...
Reposted by Guido Alfani
🎙️In Episode 2 of Dondena Decode, @pablogracia.bsky.social discusses how young people are spending their time in today’s digital world!
Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
Dondena Decode - Episode 2
Dondena Decode · Episode
open.spotify.com
July 4, 2025 at 10:01 AM
🎙️In Episode 2 of Dondena Decode, @pablogracia.bsky.social discusses how young people are spending their time in today’s digital world!
Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
open.spotify.com/episode/2eam...
I am proud to announce the first episode of Dondena Decode, a new social science podcast. In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Cormac Ó Gráda (UC Dublin) on the consequences of the World Wars, for the civilians and for the economy. #EconHist
🎙️ It’s here! The very first episode of Dondena Decode is live!
A podcast that unpacks today’s complex social issues—in less than 10 minutes.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/01s1...
A podcast that unpacks today’s complex social issues—in less than 10 minutes.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/01s1...
Dondena Decode - Episode 1
Dondena Decode · Episode
open.spotify.com
June 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I am proud to announce the first episode of Dondena Decode, a new social science podcast. In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Cormac Ó Gráda (UC Dublin) on the consequences of the World Wars, for the civilians and for the economy. #EconHist
Reposted by Guido Alfani
A new WP by @guidoalfani.bsky.social provides the most in-depth examination of factors affecting inequality at the local level of any preindustrial society, and adds to our understanding of the distributional effects of epidemics.
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/research/wea...
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/research/wea...
June 16, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A new WP by @guidoalfani.bsky.social provides the most in-depth examination of factors affecting inequality at the local level of any preindustrial society, and adds to our understanding of the distributional effects of epidemics.
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/research/wea...
stonecenter.gc.cuny.edu/research/wea...
Un bell'articolo di Elena Tebano (Corriere della Sera) sui super-ricchi, che riprende anche il mio libro Come Dèi fra gli Uomini. Una Storia dei Ricchi in Occidente (Laterza) 🙏
www.corriere.it/economia/fin...
www.corriere.it/economia/fin...
www.corriere.it
May 29, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Un bell'articolo di Elena Tebano (Corriere della Sera) sui super-ricchi, che riprende anche il mio libro Come Dèi fra gli Uomini. Una Storia dei Ricchi in Occidente (Laterza) 🙏
www.corriere.it/economia/fin...
www.corriere.it/economia/fin...
Reposted by Guido Alfani
@guidoalfani.bsky.social's spectacular lecture from his research on wealth and the rich, with a constant question: How were these agents perceived, when he spoke of the Medici he reminded me how in 1291 there was an order called ‘ordinamenti della giustizia’
1/2
1/2
May 28, 2025 at 2:00 AM
@guidoalfani.bsky.social's spectacular lecture from his research on wealth and the rich, with a constant question: How were these agents perceived, when he spoke of the Medici he reminded me how in 1291 there was an order called ‘ordinamenti della giustizia’
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Guido Alfani
Mia recensione di un'eccellente storia dei ricchi in occidente, di @guidoalfani.bsky.social
legrandcontinent.eu/it/2025/04/2...
legrandcontinent.eu/it/2025/04/2...
Una storia dei ricchi in Occidente - Il Grand Continent
Nel suo libro As Gods Among Men: A History of the Rich in the West, Guido Alfani cerca di capire chi sono i ricchi in Occidente come gruppo socio-economico, la loro evoluzione nei secoli dal Trecento ...
legrandcontinent.eu
May 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Mia recensione di un'eccellente storia dei ricchi in occidente, di @guidoalfani.bsky.social
legrandcontinent.eu/it/2025/04/2...
legrandcontinent.eu/it/2025/04/2...
Reposted by Guido Alfani
Social structure of the Han China ~150 CE from the new paper by Guido Alfani, Michele Bolla & Walter Scheidel, w/ the top elite (excl. the imperial household) income some 6,500 the country mean, Gini of 46 (almost the same as in today's China) & inequality extraction ratio of 100%.
April 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Social structure of the Han China ~150 CE from the new paper by Guido Alfani, Michele Bolla & Walter Scheidel, w/ the top elite (excl. the imperial household) income some 6,500 the country mean, Gini of 46 (almost the same as in today's China) & inequality extraction ratio of 100%.
Reposted by Guido Alfani
Tawney Lecture at EHS
Guido Alfani: Economic inequality in preindustrial societies
Guido Alfani: Economic inequality in preindustrial societies
April 6, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Tawney Lecture at EHS
Guido Alfani: Economic inequality in preindustrial societies
Guido Alfani: Economic inequality in preindustrial societies
Reposted by Guido Alfani
Une histoire des riches en Occident
Récension du dernier livre de @guidoalfani.bsky.social
(Le Grand Continent)
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/04/2...
Récension du dernier livre de @guidoalfani.bsky.social
(Le Grand Continent)
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/04/2...
Une histoire des riches en Occident | Le Grand Continent
Dans une somme encyclopédique, Guido Alfani tente de répondre à une question particulièrement ambitieuse : qui ont été les riches en Occident depuis le XVIe siècle en Occident et quel rôle ont-ils jou...
legrandcontinent.eu
April 20, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Une histoire des riches en Occident
Récension du dernier livre de @guidoalfani.bsky.social
(Le Grand Continent)
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/04/2...
Récension du dernier livre de @guidoalfani.bsky.social
(Le Grand Continent)
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/04/2...
Che cosa pensano gli Italiani della guerra? I risultati di un'indagine dell'Osservatorio Monitoring Democracy dell'Università Bocconi. Gli articoli a corredo approfondiscono il tema da varie prospettive, inclusa quella storica (a 60 anni dalla fine di WWII)
www.unibocconi.it/it/news/otta...
www.unibocconi.it/it/news/otta...
Ottant’anni dopo: la guerra nella mente degli italiani - Università Bocconi
Un’indagine del Monitoring Democracy del Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali e Politiche della Bocconi su percezioni, paure e fiducia nelle istituzioni rivela un presente segnato da insicurezze globali e ...
www.unibocconi.it
April 18, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Che cosa pensano gli Italiani della guerra? I risultati di un'indagine dell'Osservatorio Monitoring Democracy dell'Università Bocconi. Gli articoli a corredo approfondiscono il tema da varie prospettive, inclusa quella storica (a 60 anni dalla fine di WWII)
www.unibocconi.it/it/news/otta...
www.unibocconi.it/it/news/otta...