When it comes to budgeting for the year ahead, I'm still writing birthdays into my new diary (it's got a cat on it). Christmas pudding is still being digested and I'm not even thinking about the end of the month pay-cheque, there are three more Mondays to get through before all that.
So if you're anything like me, the news that today is when the CEOs of Belgium's highest-listed companies on the Brussels stock exchange will have earnt the equivalent of Belgium's median annual wage might take a moment to sink in. After an initial bit of eyebrow-raising, you'd probably need a bit more time to think this over.
An obvious first reaction is to ask how you compare to the median annual wage (which is €50,740 before taxes take a big chunk). There's now a good chance you're looking at the house opposite wondering how much more than you they make. Then you might decide that it's really too early in the year to be doing this kind of mental arithmetic.
In these days of groaning inequality with riches beyond the comprehension of even the bankers who are supposed to keep them safe, we can easily be desensitized to mega-sums (such as: BEL 20 CEOs have a median annual salary of €2.43 million). There comes a point where the zeros blend on the page (that would be €2,430,000) limiting our ability to process big numbers. Consider the net worth of the world's richest man, Bernard Arnault: €181,560,000,000. See the problem?
More troublesome still is the imbalance between haves and have-nots: a functioning society depends on communities bonding together to reach a common goal. If the individuals within society have vastly different interests (yes, there's a financial double-meaning there), then the democratic principles we laud so loudly cease to function.
In brief: this is worrying indeed but we should perhaps pay more attention to improving the fortune (another double-meaning, slightly ironic this time) of the huge majority of Belgians who could only dream of such ridiculous figures.
Reaching for the calculator? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. A beginner's guide to Belgium's political parties
Belgium's politics is famously complicated, and people can often no longer see the forest for the trees. Therefore, The Brussels Times will provide an overview of the different political parties, how they are linked, who they represent and what they stand for. Read more.
2. Jackpot Day: Belgium's best-paid CEOs already rake in median annual wage
The chief executive officers (CEOs) of the 20 largest and listed companies in Belgium have already earned the equivalent of one year's salary of the median Belgian worker as of today (Monday 9 January). Read more.
3. Around 15,000 children in Belgium may have asthma due to gas stove pollution
An estimated 15,000 children under 15 years old in Belgium suffer from asthma symptoms caused by cooking on a gas stove, research by two European organisations show. Gas hobs produce carbon monoxide, particulate matter and other harmful substances that can cause serious health problems. Read more.
4. Agreement reached? Belgium's Government to meet at 15:30 over Engie nuclear deal
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and his seven Deputy Prime Ministers will meet at 15:30 today (Monday) to discuss a deal with energy company Engie – which hints that a deal about the renewal of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear power plants is as good as done. Read more.
5. Lonely Planet releases top holiday destinations for 2023
While many have just had a break from work, for some it could hardly be described as a holiday. Thankfully, the people at Lonely Planet have released their vacation tips for 2023 to help fire the imagination and fuel that wanderlust. Read more.
6. Brussels commune invites five couples for free marriage on Valentine's Day
The Brussels commune of Schaerbeek is known for going the extra mile when it comes to wedding ceremonies. This year on the occasion of Valentine's Day, it will open its wedding hall to a lucky few to get married here for free. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: Brasserie Surréaliste
Two local brothers have created a microbrewery in a vast 1930s industrial building in the Dansaert district of Brussels that was originally a banana warehouse. Read more.
