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Jenseits der schrillen Töne: Elemente für eine rationale Diskussion über die Ungleichheit von Einkommen und Vermögen in Deutschland

Author

Listed:
  • Feld Lars P.

    (Walter Eucken Institut, Goethestraße 10, 79100 Freiburg i.Br.)

  • Schmidt Christoph M.

    (RWI – Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Hohenzollernstraße 1–3, 45128 Essen)

Abstract

Lars P. Feld and Christoph M. Schmidt take stock of the distribution of income and wealth in Germany. Income inequality increased until 2005 along with the deterioration of the labor market. Since 2005 inequality has not increased further, by some measures it has even declined. In both phases, the system of taxation and benefits has redistributed income to a considerable extent. The wealth distribution appears to be much more unequal, but the data are heavily biased, in particular because public pension systems are not taken into account. An analysis of intergenerational social mobility shows that this is where political action is most strongly needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Feld Lars P. & Schmidt Christoph M., 2016. "Jenseits der schrillen Töne: Elemente für eine rationale Diskussion über die Ungleichheit von Einkommen und Vermögen in Deutschland," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 17(2), pages 188-205, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:pewipo:v:17:y:2016:i:2:p:188-205:n:8
    DOI: 10.1515/pwp-2016-0016
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    Cited by:

    1. Burda Michael C. & Seele Stefanie, 2017. "Das deutsche Arbeitsmarktwunder: Eine Bilanz," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 18(3), pages 179-204, October.
    2. Charlotte Bartels & Carsten Schroeder, 2020. "The role of rental income, real estate and rents for inequality in Germany," Working Papers 7, Forum New Economy.
    3. Charlotte Bartels & Carsten Schroeder, 2020. "Income, consumption and wealth inequality in Germany: Three concepts, three stories?," Basic Papers 2, Forum New Economy.
    4. Paqué Karl-Heinz, 2016. "Der Wandel des Wachstums: Anmerkungen zur Dynamik von Wohlstand, Technologie und Verteilung aus Anlass von Robert J. Gordons Buch „The Rise and Fall of American Growth“," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 17(3), pages 289-308, September.
    5. Burda, Michael C. & Seele, Stefanie, 2017. "Das deutsche Arbeitsmarktwunder: Eine Bilanz," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2017-022, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Einkommens- und Vermögensverteilung; Umverteilung; soziale Mobilität;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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