Conversation w/ Vincent Geloso: The Gilded Age & Inequality? | Yaron Brook Show
16.12.2025
0:00
1:22:09
📺 Live December 15, 2025
Conversation w/ Vincent Geloso: The Gilded Age & Inequality? | Yaron Brook Show
👉 Watch the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/BhMYy9Q9baU
*“Vincent Geloso: The Truth About the Gilded Age in America’s -- Was it the Most Egalitarian Era?”*
Was the Gilded Age really a time of runaway inequality and robber barons… or the most egalitarian boom in American history?
In this riveting conversation, Yaron Brook sits down with economist and historian Vincent Geloso to explore his groundbreaking research showing that 1870–1913 may have been the era when America delivered the fastest gains to the poor in its entire history.
Geloso argues that once we correct for hidden census data biases, rapid declines in cost of living for the poor, improvements in longevity, and other overlooked factors, a stunning picture emerges:
👉 The poor improved their living standards as fast—or faster—than the top 1%
👉 America during the Gilded Age functioned as a “lean and mean egalitarian growth machine”
👉 And the cause was clear: unprecedented economic freedom
This interview previews Geloso’s forthcoming 2026 book from the University of Chicago Press, offering a bold challenge to conventional narratives about capitalism, inequality, and American history.
📚 About Vincent Geloso
Vincent J. Geloso is an Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economic History from the London School of Economics. His research focuses on long-run living standards, inequality, population economics, economic history, and political economy.
🔗 Learn more at: https://vincentgeloso.com
⏱️ Key Topics
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Conversation w/ Vincent Geloso: The Gilded Age & Inequality? | Yaron Brook Show
👉 Watch the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/BhMYy9Q9baU
*“Vincent Geloso: The Truth About the Gilded Age in America’s -- Was it the Most Egalitarian Era?”*
Was the Gilded Age really a time of runaway inequality and robber barons… or the most egalitarian boom in American history?
In this riveting conversation, Yaron Brook sits down with economist and historian Vincent Geloso to explore his groundbreaking research showing that 1870–1913 may have been the era when America delivered the fastest gains to the poor in its entire history.
Geloso argues that once we correct for hidden census data biases, rapid declines in cost of living for the poor, improvements in longevity, and other overlooked factors, a stunning picture emerges:
👉 The poor improved their living standards as fast—or faster—than the top 1%
👉 America during the Gilded Age functioned as a “lean and mean egalitarian growth machine”
👉 And the cause was clear: unprecedented economic freedom
This interview previews Geloso’s forthcoming 2026 book from the University of Chicago Press, offering a bold challenge to conventional narratives about capitalism, inequality, and American history.
📚 About Vincent Geloso
Vincent J. Geloso is an Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economic History from the London School of Economics. His research focuses on long-run living standards, inequality, population economics, economic history, and political economy.
🔗 Learn more at: https://vincentgeloso.com
⏱️ Key Topics
- 0:00 – Introduction: Was the Gilded Age Misunderstood?
- 1:04 – Vincent Geloso’s Journey into Economic History
- 4:54 – Tariffs, Trade, and Canada’s Economic Blind Spots
- 15:24 – Milk Prices, Supply Management & Market Distortions
- 22:44 – Rethinking Inequality: The Kuznets Curve Revisited
- 26:46 – Property Rights, Innovation, and 19th-Century Growth
- 33:15 – Barriers to Progress & the Great Migration
- 40:56 – Upward Mobility Through Market Specialization
- 44:11 – Immigration as an Engine of American Prosperity
- 50:53 – Economic Mobility: Then vs. Now
- 54:03 – China’s Growth Model: Sustainable or Fragile?
- 57:02 – Inside Geloso’s Upcoming Book
- 1:00:02 – Can Star Trek Exist Without Markets?
- 1:02:39 – Do Regulations and Taxes Kill Growth?
- 1:07:49 – The Jones Act: Why No Silicon Valley in Europe or Canada?
- 1:11:03 – Is American Pessimism at Odds with Reality?
- 1:14:25 – AI, Tech, Education & the Future of Wealth
- 1:20:28 – Why Markets Keep Winning—Even with Government Interference
- 1:22:03 – Closing Thoughts
👉 Subscribe for more content that challenges the status quo.
The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)
-- Hendershott Wealth Management (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)
Join this channel to get access to perks: / @yaronbrook
Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx
Support the Show and become a sponsor:
/ yaronbrookshow or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or / yaronbrookshow
Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ
Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )
Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.
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