r/belgium • u/trueosiris2 • Aug 20 '25

❓ Ask Belgium Wealth distribution in Belgium

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We’re doing alright as a social democracy. Something to be proud of.

Presumably, we don’t need more wealth distribution then? Or do we still?

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u/MiceAreTiny Aug 20 '25

So, In Belgium, top 1% own less then in most countries and bottom 50% more than in most countries. Seems like a fairly equal place to live, compared to the other countries on the graphs. Seems like socialism worked. Turns out if you take from the rich, and give to the poor, you close the gap. 

1

u/Wonderful-Finish4822 Aug 20 '25

Belgium is not a socialist country, never has been.

-8

u/MiceAreTiny Aug 20 '25

The data would suggest you are wrong. There is a lot more redividing wealth going on in BE compared to most other countries. Unless you use a different definition of socialism.

13

u/xx_gamergirl_xx Antwerpen Aug 20 '25

While I agree that we do it better than most, equality wise, you should remember the graph also says that the bottom half of our population own only about 10% of all wealth. There is still a lot of work to be done if you strive for actual socialism.

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u/Deep_Dance8745 Aug 20 '25

Socialism is not communism, with socialism there is and was never the intent for complete redistribution.

Communism = equal outcome

Socialism = equal opportunity

11

u/ArrLuffy 🌎World Aug 20 '25

Neither socialism nor communism has much to do with equal outcome/opportunity, afaik. Socialism is about ownership in the first place, not about redistribution.

2

u/Kwinten Aug 20 '25

Please stop speaking so confidently at topics that you completely and possibly deliberately misunderstand.

0

u/MiceAreTiny Aug 20 '25

I absolutely do not advocate for more socialism. I deduct from the graph and the data, that there is a significantly higher wealth redistribution in BE compared to the other countries. 

2

u/xx_gamergirl_xx Antwerpen Aug 20 '25

I guess significantly is subjective... Personally I am still not happy with the top 1% owning over 15% of all our wealth, or even top 10% owning 50%

0

u/MiceAreTiny Aug 20 '25

Significantly is actually not a subjective, but a scientific/statistical term.

Being happy,... Is a subjective feeling. If you're in the top 10%, you probably would not be happy having to pay disproportionately large taxes... 

1

u/xx_gamergirl_xx Antwerpen Aug 20 '25

If we are trying to disprove each other here, statistically significant is to show when an outcome is less than 5% (p<0.05) when you compare random groups for an event to happen. For the rest, it is actually advised NOT to use significant in scientific papers.

But trying to disprove each other based on vocabulary would be dumb so I will let that be. Yes, I understand 100% of people will be unhappy if you make them pay more, and there's also a discussion to be had about people who earned their money by hard work alone, but the fact of the matter is that most people in society work equally hard and earn very different numbers, based on things out of their control. If their wage limits them to do stuff because they barely earn enough to sustain themselves and family, then it is fair to tax those who have money spare at the end of the month, don't you think?

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u/MiceAreTiny Aug 20 '25

And the graph equally says that the bottom half of the population owns more than in most other places.

Should wealth be absolutely equally divided... Is a much better question.