Oberschicht

Oberschicht, a term used in sociology and German-language discourse, denotes the highest stratum in modern social stratification. It comprises individuals and families with substantial or inherited wealth, high incomes, and positions of political and economic influence. Members often hold top executive roles, own large businesses, or occupy prestigious professions and civil service positions. Educational attainment tends to be high, frequently with university degrees from elite institutions, and networks within corporate boards, financial institutions, and political circles help sustain status. The term roughly corresponds to the upper class in English.

Measurement and debate about the Oberschicht vary by context. Researchers identify it using indicators such as net wealth, annual income, occupation prestige, and educational background, sometimes combined into socioeconomic status or elite indices. In Germany and other German-speaking countries, the term is common in public discourse and sociology to discuss wealth concentration, social reproduction, and power, while there is no single official definition.

Social dynamics within the Oberschicht include status endogamy and social closure, with generations often following similar occupations and educational paths. The concept overlaps with the Wirtschaftselite (economic elite) or politische Elite (political elite) but is not identical to them; some individuals are wealthy by inheritance, others by entrepreneurship or high-level positions.

Historical and contemporary context shows that industrialization created a prominent upper class of industrialists and bankers. Post-World War II welfare state developments reshaped class structures, yet wealth and influence remain highly concentrated in a small segment of the population. In the 21st century, globalization has produced transnational elites that operate beyond national borders, complicating traditional national class categories.