soortrijkdom

Soortrijkdom is a term used in Dutch-language discussions to refer to the qualitative composition of a person’s or group’s wealth. The word combines soort (kind, type) with rijkdom (wealth) and is sometimes written as one word in academic texts. It is not a formal economic measure but a conceptual tool for analyzing how wealth takes different forms and functions in society.

Conceptually, soortrijkdom denotes the aggregation of material, social, cultural, and symbolic resources that contribute to well-being and social standing, beyond monetary assets alone. It distinguishes between material wealth (cash, property) and non-material forms such as social capital (networks and reciprocity), cultural capital (education, credentials, tastes), and symbolic capital (prestige and legitimacy). It can also encompass dimensions of security, resilience, and access to opportunities.

Origins and usage of the term vary, and it appears in some sociological and policy discussions as a way to assess inequality more holistically. It is used to compare individuals or groups whose financial income is similar but whose total resources differ, helping to explain differences in life chances that money alone does not capture.

Examples illustrate that a family with modest income but strong social networks, educational assets, and reputational capital may exhibit higher soortrijkdom than a similarly paid household lacking those other resources.

Critics argue that soortrijkdom can be vague and difficult to measure consistently, and that relying on a broad concept risks conflating distinct forms of capital without clear indicators. See also wealth, social capital, cultural capital, human capital.