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How Much Do We Know About Wealth Distribution in Australia?
Author(s) -
Nevile J. W.,
Warren N. A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
australian economic review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1467-8462
pISSN - 0004-9018
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8462.1984.tb00472.x
Subject(s) - probate , wealth distribution , distribution (mathematics) , estate , distribution of wealth , inequality , economics , demographic economics , estate tax , political science , public economics , finance , law , mathematical analysis , mathematics , tax avoidance , tax credit
This paper surveys what is known about wealth distribution in Australia and concludes that our knowledge is scanty. The most reliable evidence comes from studies using probate returns and with the abolition of estate duties, these studies are becoming out of date. However, it is clear that wealth is very unequally distributed. The top 5 per cent of adult individuals own between 40 and 50 per cent of the wealth. This inequality is not just due to life cycle effects, and there is no strong evidence that wealth distribution has become more equal in Australia in the period since the First World War.