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According to the documentation, static variables are allowed only in outer classes. Why is that? Is it because you'd need to instantiate the inner class first?

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    You can read about this subject for Java. Though as inner classes are not given automatic access to the outer class fields in Apex not all of that is relevant. – Keith C Sep 4 '15 at 15:31
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    The difference is that inner classes in java can be constructed off an instance of the outer class. MyClass outer = new MyClass(); MyInnerClass inner = outer.new MyInnerClass(); In apex, they are always treated as static on the outer class. MyClass.MyInnerClass inner = new MyClass.MyInnerClass(); Thus, it seems that statics would be perfectly fine in an inner class. I have no good answer why SF wouldn't allow them – NSjonas Sep 4 '15 at 18:57
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InnerClass cannot have static members because it belongs to an instance (of OuterClass) and a static members means that this variable belongs to the entire class and not any particular instance.

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