Wealth inequality and class location

Abstract

Despite a recent increase in the attention given to wealth inequality, no research has examined the role of class, as it is understood within the Marxist tradition, in structuring the distribution of wealth. The use of relational - rather than gradational - measures of class location reveal distinct processes of wealth accumulation. Specifically, analysis of financial (i.e., "liquid") wealth by class location indicates significant differences between capitalists, petty bourgeoisie, and workers regarding the accumulation of wealth.