Indkomsten

Indkomsten is a term used in Nordic statistical and policy contexts to denote the total income received by an individual or household during a defined period, typically one year. It is used to analyze living standards, taxation, and social welfare, and can be defined in different ways as gross income, disposable income, or net income depending on the reference framework.

Indkomsten comprises several sources: labor income (earnings from employment and self-employment), capital income (interest, dividends, rents, and capital gains), and transfers (pensions, unemployment and other social benefits, alimony). In some statistics, imputed income from home ownership or social benefits is included in the measure.

Measurement and variants:

Gross income refers to earnings before taxes and transfers, while disposable income is gross income minus direct taxes plus cash transfers. Net income can refer to post-tax, post-transfer income or to household-adjusted measures such as equivalised income. Data come from tax records, social security data, and household surveys, each with strengths and limitations like underreporting or non-response.

Uses and dynamics:

Indkomsten is central in assessing living standards, poverty risk, and income inequality. It informs tax policy analysis, welfare design, and labor-market studies. The distribution of indkomsten often varies by age, education, gender, geography, and family structure, with capital income typically being concentrated among higher-wealth groups.

Variations and related concepts:

Different countries classify and measure indkomsten differently, affecting cross-country comparisons. Related concepts include gross national income, market income, disposable income, and equivalised income.