Vermogensklasse

Vermogensklasse is a term used in sociology and economics to describe groups of people defined by their wealth or net assets, rather than by income alone. The word combines vermogens (assets or wealth) with klasse (class), and it is employed to analyze how wealth is distributed across a population and how this distribution relates to social stratification, political influence, and consumption behavior. Unlike classifications based on annual income, vermogensklasse emphasizes accumulated assets such as financial assets, real estate, and other forms of wealth, minus liabilities.

Measurement of vermogensklasse typically relies on net worth or net financial assets and is often expressed through percentile cutoffs (for example, bottom, middle, and top wealth brackets) or fixed thresholds. Because wealth can be highly sensitive to asset prices, debt levels, and data quality, researchers must carefully define which assets and liabilities are included and how values are adjusted over time. Cross-country comparisons face additional challenges due to differences in accounting practices, tax systems, and survey methods.

Applications of the concept include the study of wealth inequality, intergenerational mobility, and the design of policy instruments aimed at wealth distribution, such as inheritance taxes, wealth taxes, or programs targeting asset accumulation. Vermogensklasse is also used to examine correlations between wealth and political attitudes, consumer behavior, and social participation. Critics note that wealth classification can be arbitrary, that wealth fluctuates with market conditions, and that the boundaries between classes may be porous rather than discrete.

See also: wealth inequality, net worth, asset, social class, income distribution.