The question of wealth in France is attracting more and more attention, especially today where economic inequalities are debated. Defining who is rich in France is not limited to figures: it is also a question of social and cultural perception. This helps to better understand how the French see the distribution of money and its repercussions on collective well-being.
Dissect the definition of wealth
The observatory of inequalities, which studies income differences, has developed a method to specify what it means to be rich in France. According to this method, we consider that a person is rich if they earn a little less than three times the minimum wage after taxes. This calculation is inspired by an approach similar to that used to fix the poverty line, which offers an interesting parallel between the two extremes.
The thresholds vary depending on the size of the hearth. For example, a single person must receive 3,860 euros net per month after taxes to be considered rich. For a childless couple, the amount amounts to 5,790 euros net monthly. As soon as a child under the age of 14 is in the equation, the threshold goes to 6,948 euros per month for the couple. Finally, for a couple with three children, you have to reach 10,808 euros net monthly to be classified among the rich.
Some figures that say long
Salary differences show that people earning the minimum wage three to 8 % of the wealthiest French people three times. For a single person, 3,860 euros also represent double median salary in France. These are amounts that clearly illustrate the gap between those who are considered rich and the rest of the population.
According to INSEE, the median salary in the private sector is 2,012 euros net per month, while millionaires in France represent another facet of wealth. Employees who receive 3,000 euros net per month are among the best paid in the country, while those who earn 4,000 euros net per month are among the most favored. Finally, those whose income exceeds 9,600 euros net monthly are part of the elite of 1 % of the highest wages.
Reflections around the term “wealth”
The subject of wealth remains delicate in France, as explained by Anne Brunner, director of studies at the observatory of inequalities. On RMC, she said that “we have a lot of trouble pronouncing the word ‘rich'” in France, which testifies to a cultural taboo linked to money and social status.
Louis Maurin, director of the Observatory of Inequalities, proposes to set a threshold of wealth of double of the median standard of living. This proposal aims to make it clearer what it means to be rich in a reality where perceptions vary strongly.
Anne Brunner also specifies that their scale “offers the same approach based on people with an income twice as that of the middle classes”. To summarize, “as soon as we earn more than 3,860 euros after taxes, we find ourselves in the 7 % of the best lotis French. »»
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The concept of wealth cannot be reduced only to income, it also depends on the personal heritage and the place of residence. By asking ourselves the question “from which income can we consider ourselves rich in France?” », We open the door to a necessary discussion on today’s inequalities, especially in connection with the poverty rate.