Different but Equal? Classes, Wealth, and Perceptions in Europe

We analyse whether class is still a relevant concept in Europe today along differences in income, wealth, and perceptions and behaviour. Using data for 10 euro area countries, we apply and adapt the Wolff and Zacharias (2013) class schema for the euro area. We confirm stark differences between classes in the functional distribution of income, as well as in the distribution of wealth. The selfemployed occupy a Janus-faced position; they resemble capitalists in terms of income sources, and workers in terms of wealth composition. Focusing on wealth readily differentiates capitalists into financial versus real capitalist classes.