Surveys in recent years have shown that Germans have a worse impression of their rich fellow citizens than is the case in some other countries, such as neighboring Poland or distant Vietnam.
The opinion research institutes Allensbach and Ipsos Mori asked people from different countries about their impression of the rich. The survey interviewed approximately 1,000 people in each country.
Germans with numerous prejudices against rich fellow citizens
The existing differences in perception were particularly interesting. The survey came to the conclusion that only 18 percent of Poles believe that their rich fellow citizens are tax cheats. In contrast, around 51 percent of Germans believe that the rich cheat on their tax returns. While in Poland only 24 percent of respondents perceive rich people as arrogant, in Germany the figure is 43 percent. In addition, more than half of those surveyed in Germany consider the country’s rich citizens to be selfish, materialistic and ruthless. The survey also shows that the majority of Germans blame the rich for many world problems.
However, citizens of both nations agree on one point: just over 40 percent are convinced that rich people are hardworking.
German citizens agree to heavy taxation of the rich
The taxation of high assets is a topic that is repeatedly discussed in the German public – for example in newspapers and in a variety of TV formats. Germans’ attitudes towards taxing rich people are mixed. A study by the Bertelsmann Foundation on the perception of justice in Germany shows that around 76.5 percent would like higher taxation of rich people in the Federal Republic, according to the “Handelsblatt”. Many support higher taxes on the rich in the hope of achieving a more equitable distribution of wealth, the study found. The differences between the Germans and their neighbors from Poland are particularly clear. The survey on the topic “What impression do citizens have of the country’s rich” shows that Germans hope for more intensive taxation of rich people than those surveyed in Poland. While 51 percent of Germans agree with higher taxation, around 51 percent of Poles have the opposite opinion – the rich should not be taxed so heavily, according to “FOCUS”. A large number of the countries surveyed voted for higher taxes on rich people. In addition to Poland, Vietnam and Sweden are also exceptions.
So does Germany have a problem with the rich?
The study highlights the more negative attitude of Germans towards their rich fellow citizens, especially in comparison to many other countries. The results of the study indicate that people in Anglo-Saxon countries view the rich with significantly less hostility and envy. 55 percent of Germans said that their parents’ relationships were crucial for potential future wealth. Likewise, 41 percent of those surveyed are of the opinion that most rich people only got their wealth through inheritance.
Editorial team finanzen.net