fiscal administrative data sources for the last centuiy indicate that the widely observed rise in top incomes in the rich countries oecd forthcoming is also true of china india indonesia argentina and south africa alvaredo et al figure shows that the richest s share of national income has grown significantly in those countries over the last two decades on the one hand there are those who perceive high earnings as the right reward for talent or hard work and who see the possibility of high earnings as an opportunity