Journal
SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH
Volume 154, Issue 1, Pages 115-143Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11205-020-02552-z
Keywords
Riches; Super-rich; Inequality; Evaluation; Norms; Vignettes
Categories
Funding
- H2020 European Research Council [726153]
- European Research Council (ERC) [726153] Funding Source: European Research Council (ERC)
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The Dutch population has established a consensus on setting a wealth line between 1 and 3 million euros, regardless of their own income and education levels. While extreme wealth itself is not considered a severe problem, there is widespread support for increased taxation of the super-rich in order to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable members of society.
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.
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