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Multidimensional affluence: Theory and applications to Germany and the US

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  • Andreas Peichl

    (Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), University of Cologne, ISER and CESifo)

  • Nico Pestel

    (Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) and University of Cologne)

Abstract

This paper suggests multidimensional affluence measures for the top of the distribution. In contrast to commonly used top income shares, they allow the analysis of the extent, intensity and breadth of affluence in several dimensions within a common framework. We illustrate this by analyzing the role of income and wealth as dimensions of multidimensional well-being in Germany and the US in 2007 as well as for the US over the period 1989–2007. We find distinct country differences with the country ranking depending on the measure. While in Germany wealth predominantly contributes to the intensity of affluence, income is more important in the US.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Peichl & Nico Pestel, 2011. "Multidimensional affluence: Theory and applications to Germany and the US," Working Papers 218, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2011-218
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    Cited by:

    1. Merz, Joachim & Scherg, Bettina, 2021. "Time, Income and Subjective Well-Being - 20 Years of Interdependent Multidimensional Polarization in Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 14870, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Kontbay-Busun, Sine & Peichl, Andreas, 2014. "Multidimensional affluence in income and wealth in the eurozone: A cross country comparison using the HFCS," ZEW Discussion Papers 14-124, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    3. Andreas Peichl & Nico Pestel, 2013. "Multidimensional Well‐Being at the Top: Evidence for Germany," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 34, pages 355-371, September.
    4. BILOA ESSIMI, Jean Aristide & CHAMENI NEMBUA, Celestin, 2013. "Estimation D’Une Ligne D’Affluence : Cas Du Cameroun [Affluence Line Estimation: Case Of Cameroon]," MPRA Paper 48095, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Andreas Peichl & Nico Pestel, 2013. "Multidimensional affluence: theory and applications to Germany and the US," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(32), pages 4591-4601, November.
    6. Michal Brzezinski, 2011. "Variance Estimation for Richness Measures," LWS Working papers 11, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    7. Okushima, Shinichiro, 2017. "Gauging energy poverty: A multidimensional approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 1159-1166.
    8. Lidia Ceriani & Paolo Verme, 2014. "The Income Lever and the Allocation of Aid," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(11), pages 1510-1522, November.
    9. Chameni Nembua, Célestin & Biloa Essimi, Jean Aristide, 2013. "Who is Rich in Cameroun? [Who is Rich in Cameroon?]," MPRA Paper 48024, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Arup Bose & Satya Chakravarty & Conchita D’Ambrosio, 2014. "Richness orderings," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 12(1), pages 5-22, March.
    11. Vasiliy A. Anikin & Yulia P. Lezhnina & Svetlana V. Mareeva & Ekaterina D. Slobodenyuk & Nataliya N. Tikhonovà, 2016. "Income Stratification: Key Approaches and Their Application to Russia," HSE Working papers WP BRP 02/PSP/2016, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    12. Anand, Paul & Roope, Laurence & Peichl, Andreas, 2016. "Wellbeing Evidence for the Assessment of Progress," IZA Discussion Papers 9840, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Ida D’Attoma & Mariagiulia Matteucci, 2024. "Multidimensional poverty: an analysis of definitions, measurement tools, applications and their evolution over time through a systematic review of the literature up to 2019," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 3171-3213, August.
    14. Cantó, Olga & García-Pérez, Carmelo & Romaguera-de-la-Cruz, Marina, 2020. "The dimension, nature and distribution of economic insecurity in European countries: A multidimensional approach," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 44(3).
    15. Jörg Paetzold & Markus Tiefenbacher, 2018. "Distributional and revenue effects of a tax shift from labor to property," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 25(5), pages 1215-1251, October.
    16. Michal Brzezinski, 2014. "Statistical inference for richness measures," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(14), pages 1599-1608, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    top incomes; multidimensional measurement; richness; wealth; inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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