How Rich is Too Rich? Measuring the Riches Line

Ingrid Robeyns, Vincent Buskens, Arnout van de Rijt, Nina Vergeldt, Tanja van der Lippe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Is it possible to identify a ‘riches line’, distinguishing the ‘rich’ from the ‘super-rich’? Recent work in political philosophy suggests that this is theoretically possible. This study examines for the first time the empirical plausibility of a riches line, based on novel data collected from a representative sample of the Dutch population. The data reveal that the Dutch indeed draw such a line, namely between 1 and 3 million euros. Strikingly, respondents agree on its approximate location irrespective of their own income and education. Although most do not consider extreme wealth itself a severe problem and object to the government’s enforcement of limits to wealth and income, widespread support exists for increased taxation of the super-rich if that would improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable members of society.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)115–143
Number of pages29
JournalSocial Indicators Research
Volume154
Issue number1
Early online date25 Nov 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • Evaluation
  • Inequality
  • Norms
  • Riches
  • Super-rich
  • Vignettes

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