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Income, consumption and wealth inequality in Germany: Three concepts, three stories?

Author

Listed:
  • Charlotte Bartels

    (Socio-Economic Panel at DIW Berlin)

  • Carsten Schroeder

    (Socio-Economic Panel at DIW Berlin and Freie Universitaet Berlin)

Abstract
Given how controversially inequality is still being discussed by both academics and policy makers in Germany, we discuss methodological issues related to the measurement of inequalities and review the literature and empirical estimates of different forms of inequality. One important issue is the choice of the measure of well-being: the central measures discussed are household equivalent disposable in-come, household consumption, and wealth. Subsequently we use the Income and Expenditure Survey (Einkommens- und Verbrauchsstichprobe (EVS)) for Germany since 1993 to compare inequality across income, consumption, and wealth. Generally, we find that these three concepts tell different stories about the level of inequality and its intertemporal pattern. In line with theoretical arguments and previous empirical evidence, wealth is more unequally distributed than income and income more une-qually than consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte Bartels & Carsten Schroeder, 2020. "Income, consumption and wealth inequality in Germany: Three concepts, three stories?," Basic Papers 2, Forum New Economy.
    • Handle: RePEc:agz:bpaper:2002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Charlotte Bartels & Carsten Schroeder, 2020. "The role of rental income, real estate and rents for inequality in Germany," Working Papers 7, Forum New Economy.
    2. Charlotte Bartels & Carsten Schröder, 2020. "Die Bedeutung von Mieteinkommen und Immobilien für die Ungleichheit in Deutschland," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 100(10), pages 741-746, October.
    3. Endres, Lukas & Behringer, Jan & van Treeck, Till, 2023. "Income Inequality, Consumption and Status Competition in Germany," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277689, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inequality; income; consumption; wealth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D - Microeconomics
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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