Messung von Ausmaß, Intensität und Konzentration des Einkommens- und Vermögensreichtums in Deutschland

In this paper we analyze the upper edge of income and wealth distribution in Germany with data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). According to Sen´s (1976) recommendation for the poverty measurement, we first define different thresholds above which a person belongs to the rich part of society. Then we examine how many people are above these thresholds (extent), how much income or wealth they have on average (intensity), and how these financial resources are distributed among the rich persons (concentration). Analyzing extent, intensity and concentration simultaneously gives a broader understanding of the dynamics of the upper edge of income and wealth distribution. For example, we find that in comparison to the average in Germany, civil servants are more often above the defined thresholds but receive on average less income and own less wealth. In addition, their financial resources are less concentrated then the German average.