Is wealth unequally distributed?
Not only do many citizens assume this, but also top economists.
A new analysis shows that some Germans have so much that they can live very well on it alone.
"Whoever works will be stupid in the future": A Twitter user writes this statement under a post by the well-known satirist "El Hotzo", which is currently going viral on the Internet.
His answer is based on an infographic showing statistics from the German Federal Office.
It states that 809,000 people in Germany do not have to work.
The background: They have so much money or assets of their own that they can make a living from it.
This corresponds to about one percent of the total population.
"Why does 'work have to pay off!'
actually not for this one?”: Infographic causes a sensation on the internet
This means that in 2021 the number of people who own so much private wealth that they do not have to go to work increased by almost 100,000 compared to 2020.
Not only what you have earned yourself flows into your own assets, but also income from renting, interest and old age.
The Duden defines the latter as "share of property that someone reserves when handing over his property (usually a farm) to the successor".
This mainly affects the farm handover and secures the farmer who retires and thus hands over the farm to his successor.
Why doesn't "work have to pay off" actually apply to them here?
pic.twitter.com/Nx1kXRGgYY
— ELHOTZO (@elhotzo) January 9, 2023
For comparison: Just ten years ago, according to the Federal Statistical Office, there were only a little more than half as many private individuals.
In 2010 "only" 415,000 were counted.
Also interesting: The majority of those who no longer have to go to work are between 45 and 65 years old, as the infographic shows, with around 30 percent being younger or older.
The satirist "El Hotzo" takes this as an opportunity to ask his numerous followers: "Why does 'work have to pay off!'
actually not for this one?” His post has already received over 4,000 likes and has been retweeted almost 200 times.
Some users see the post as a provocation: "Demand for property expropriation?"
While some comment sarcastically on this as well, there are others who see nothing wrong with it.
A user reacted to this with the following comment: “Work is particularly worthwhile for these people.
Namely the work of others." Another user sees the post as a provocation and says: "Is that a demand for property expropriation?
An acquaintance (ang. craftsman) bought an apartment building in need of renovation in the 2000s, renovated a lot himself, was extremely economical during the financing and now lives on the rental income.
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Another agrees: "Ah, the good one, so social logic.
Someone did something to become financially independent and worked towards it?!
We have to force him to work!!!!!1!1!1!1!1!” Others, on the other hand, see and comment on the problem that wealth is distributed very unequally in Germany.
Is it only worth inheriting instead of working?
Some point out that nowadays it is not possible to build up a fortune with hard work as in the past, only those who are lucky enough to inherit it.
Accordingly, a user tries to appease and finally suggests: "Of course there are many who have inherited and therefore never had to work, which is why a higher inheritance tax would be needed, but that doesn't apply to everyone."
Rubric list image: © Gustafsson/Imago