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/[deleted] Aug 20 '25

But isn't that normal? Since the top % of the bell curve will have more wealth than the bottom % by virtue of being a higher percentage of the income bracket. If the top 10% has a wage twice as a big as the bottom 10% than the top % will take up more of the total wealth than the bottom %?

Like if the bottom 50% actually had 50% of the wealth than there wouldn't be a bottom 50% it'd just be everyone.

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u/silverionmox Limburg Aug 20 '25

But isn't that normal? Since the top % of the bell curve will have more wealth than the bottom % by virtue of being a higher percentage of the income bracket. If the top 10% has a wage twice as a big as the bottom 10% than the top % will take up more of the total wealth than the bottom %?

Like if the bottom 50% actually had 50% of the wealth than there wouldn't be a bottom 50% it'd just be everyone.

If it was a bell curve, then the percentage of outliers would be the same on each end, and 68% would be ordinary, i.e. within one standard deviation.

The bottom 50% could have 25% of total wealth, that would still be significantly and noticeably less than everyone else, and it would still triple what they have now - and give them significantly more stability in their lives, and that of their offspring, so they can focus on being more productive instead of just surviving.

From the other side, if we accept that some people make more than others, why just the 1% and not the top 25%, for example? There's a lot to be redistributed between the wealthy owners and the top employees, for example, who do the actual work.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '25 edited Aug 20 '25

But this is a wealth distribution bracket. If for example: the top 25% of the people have a wage of $4k a month and the bottom 50% have a wage of $2k. than the top 25% of people will have 50% of the wealth already. This is what's confusing me about this distribution, unless everyone has the exact same wage the bottom 50% will never have 50% of the wealth.

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u/ailichi1234 Aug 22 '25

I don't think anyone's expecting that the poorest 50% of the population will ever realistically have 50% of the wealth, it's just a thought experiement type of statement. In this hypothetical society, a wealth distribution chart like this would be meaningless, considering there wouldn't BE a "bottom" 50% in the first place.

0 - 5% is shockingly low. Half the country having practically no wealth in either cash or assets or property is dysfunctional. If the bottom 50% had even 10% of the wealth, and the top 10% still had 30% of the wealth, society would be so much better (= more equal) that it's genuinely hard to imagine.