Story: Income and wealth distribution

Market and total income, 1981

Market and total income, 1981

In the 1981 census the figures for personal income were collected on both a market and a total basis. This graph allows a comparison between the two sets of figures. Since the total income figures include state social-security benefits, the greatest difference between market and total income is at the left side of the graph where incomes are lowest. In terms of market incomes, more than one in five of people aged 15 and over received no income at all in the form of labour earnings or a return on any savings. But when benefit payments were taken into account in the total income figures, the number receiving no income fell to less than one in 15, many of whom would have been students still in education or women at home.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand census, 1981

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How to cite this page:

Brian Easton, 'Income and wealth distribution - Market and total income', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/graph/23798/market-and-total-income-1981 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Brian Easton, published 11 Mar 2010