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Rising top-income persistence in Australia: Evidence from income tax data

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas Hérault

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, the University of Melbourne)

  • Dean Hyslop

    (Motu Research)

  • Stephen P. Jenkins

    (London School of Economics and Political Science)

  • Roger Wilkins

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, the University of Melbourne)

Abstract

We use a new Australian longitudinal income tax dataset, Alife, covering 1991–2017, to examine levels and trends in the persistence in top-income group membership, focussing on the top 1%. We summarize persistence in multiple ways, documenting levels and trends in rates of remaining in top-income groups; re-entry to the top; the income changes associated with top-income transitions; and we also compare top-income persistence rates for annual and ‘permanent’ incomes. Regardless of the perspective taken, top-income persistence increased markedly over the period, with most of the increase occurring in the mid-2000s and early 2010s. In the mid- to late-2010s, Australian top-income persistence rates appear to have been near the top of the range of tax-data estimates for other countries. Using univariate breakdowns and multivariate regression, we show that the rise in top-income persistence in Australia was experienced by many population subgroups.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Hérault & Dean Hyslop & Stephen P. Jenkins & Roger Wilkins, 2021. "Rising top-income persistence in Australia: Evidence from income tax data," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2021n20, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2021n20
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Richard V. Burkhauser & Markus H. Hahn & Roger Wilkins, 2018. "Transitioning from an Historical to a Contemporary Use of Tax Record Data for Measuring Top Incomes in Australia," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 37(2), pages 113-145, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jeff Larrimore & David Splinter, 2026. "Income Mobility of the Top One Percent," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2026-015, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).

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    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access

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