The Distribution of National Income in Germany, 1992-2019

Stefan Bach, Charlotte Bartels and Theresa Neef

No 1227, SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research from DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP)

Abstract: This paper estimates and analyzes the distribution and composition of pre-tax national income in Germany since reunification, combining personal income tax returns, household survey data, and national accounts. We find that pre-tax national income inequality has increased since the 1990s, though to a lesser extent than suggested by previous studies. Our results draw parallels in top income structure and concentration to the United States: Half of the top 1% earners are non-corporate business owners in labor-intensive professions contrasting with corporate top incomes in France. Also the concentration of pre-tax national income in Germany is similar to the United States and higher than in France.

Keywords: Income distribution; Labor income; Capital income; Top Incomes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 E01 H2 H5 J3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 24 p.
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1227

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