husstandsindkomst

Husstandsindkomst, or household income, is the total monetary income earned by all members of a household over a given period, typically one year. It includes wages and salaries, self-employment income, social benefits and pensions, unemployment or disability benefits, interest, dividends, rental income, and other transfers. The concept usually refers to gross cash income before personal income tax, though some analyses use net income after taxes.

Measurement and use: Data are collected by national statistical offices through household surveys and administrative records. Income is aggregated at the household level and then, for international comparisons, adjusted for household size and composition using equivalence scales. Equivalised income, rather than raw household income, is commonly used to compare living standards across households of different sizes. Per-household income and per-capita income are other contrasts but can lead to different interpretations of welfare.

Applications: Husstandsindkomst is a central input in poverty thresholds, inequality measures (e.g., Gini coefficient), and welfare policy analysis. It helps assess the impact of tax and transfer systems on living standards and guides social programs.

Limitations: Income reporting may be incomplete, especially for informal work or in cash economies. Country differences in tax systems, benefit eligibility, and data collection methods limit cross-country comparability. Some definitions exclude in-kind benefits or capital gains; consistency in methodology is essential for trend assessment.