In the UK the IFS (the Institute for Fiscal Studies) have a great online calculator for working out where you sit in terms of the UK distribution of incomes.
As well as being interesting, the graph at the end is a great reminder to market researchers to avoid using the mean when reporting age. The UK distribution is so skewed that the modal and median income are a long way below the mean income. In terms of 'in the street' conversations, this means that most people earn less than the average wage!
Michael Blastland warns of how averages can reduce numbers to a 'white rainbow' in this book, which I highly recommend:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/aug/10/politicalbooks3
Posted by: Robert B | June 23, 2009 at 10:07 AM