Wealthier Jews,taller Gentiles: Inequality of income and physical stature in fin-de-siècle Hungary

The stereotype of rich Jews versus poor Gentiles does not apply to fin-de-siècle Hungary. Although the average income of Jews was higher than that of Gentiles, the distribution of income among Jews was extremely unequal, far more so than among Christians. Jews were over-represented at the poor end as well as at the rich end of the income spectrum. In four high schools studied the average height of Jewish students was approximately 1 cm below that of Gentiles. This height–income discrepancy goes far to explain the divergence in income distribution between the members of the two faiths.