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Growing U.S. Income Inequality
Growing U.S. Income Inequality
Income Inequality
-11
African Americans 28
-8 2000-2009
Latinos 19 1991-2000
-5
Whites 13 14
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Source: Calculated from Census Data, Report P60-238
Who are the poor?
• What are their characteristics?
• Where do they live?
• Have their numbers increased over time?
• How about the rate of poverty? Is that
unchanged?
Percent in Poverty, 2009
30
25.8 25.3
25
20
15
12.5
10 9.4
0
16
White Black Hispanic Asian
Source: U.S. Census, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage (Sep., 2010)
Percent in Poverty, 2009
18 - 64 Years 12.9
0 5 10 15 20 2
Source: U.S. Census, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage (Sep., 2010)
Percent in Poverty, 2009
32.5
35
30 22
25
20 14.3
15 5.8
10
5
0
All Persons Single (Non- Married Female
Family) Couple Headed with
Family Children
Source: U.S. Census, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage (Sep., 2010)
19
Facts About U.S. Poverty
•How “poor” is poor? It depends on your
family size and your age. In 2009, if you were a
single mom with 2 kids under 18, you were
“poor” if your annual income was $17,285 or
less. For a single person over 65 years old, the
cut off was $ 10,289.
Facts About U.S. Poverty
•How “poor” is poor? It depends on your
family size and your age. In 2009, if you were a
single mom with 2 kids under 18, you were
“poor” if your annual income was $17,285 or
less. For a single person over 65 years old, the
cut off was $ 10,289.
• Within the past decade, the poverty rate has
increased 27% for all persons, and 30% for all
families.
Facts About U.S. Poverty
•How “poor” is poor? It depends on your
family size and your age. In 2009, if you were a
single mom with 2 kids under 18, you were
“poor” if your annual income was $17,285 or
less. For a single person over 65 years old, the
cut off was $ 10,289.
• Within the past decade, the poverty rate has
increased 27% for all persons, and 30% for all
families.
• Thus, the poor grew by 12 million in the past
decade, totally obliterating the 4 million reduction in
poor persons that occurred in the 1990s.
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
•The number of Americans who are poor today,
over 43 million, is at an all time high and
surpasses the population of most nations. One
of every 7 persons in our country is poor!
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
• The number of Americans who are poor
today, over 43 million, is at an all time high and
surpasses the population of most nations. One
of every 7 persons in our country is poor!
• Many, many Americans have such low
incomes that they are on the brink of poverty
at all times. In the four year period (2004-
2007), just before the onset of The Great
Recession, nearly one in three Americans fell
into poverty for 2 or more months. The 2008-
2011 figures will surely be even grimmer!
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
• Lastly, one of 11 elderly (65 and over) and 1
of 5 children are living under poverty today.
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
• Lastly, one of 11 elderly (65 and over) and 1
of 5 children are living under poverty today.
• These two innocent, vulnerable groups
comprise 44% of poor people, approaching the
20 million mark.
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
• Lastly, one of 11 elderly (65 and over) and 1
of 5 children are living under poverty today.
• These two innocent, vulnerable groups
comprise 44% of poor people, approaching the
20 million mark.
• Unfortunately, the United States does not do
a very good job protecting our poor through
social services and other governmental
programs.
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
• The U.S. has an initial poverty rate lower
than many of our industrial peers (26.3%,
compared to Sweden’s 26.7%, Germany’s 33.6%,
U.K.’s 26.3%, Japan’s 26.9%).
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
• The U.S. has an initial poverty rate lower
than many of our industrial peers (26.3%,
compared to Sweden’s 26.7%, Germany’s 33.6%,
U.K.’s 26.3%, Japan’s 26.9%).
• After taxes and transfers, however, our
poverty rate only declines to 17.1%. Of the 20
advanced countries, we are last in reduction.
Facts About U.S. Poverty (Cont.)
• The U.S. has an initial poverty rate lower
than many of our industrial peers (26.3%,
compared to Sweden’s 26.7%, Germany’s 33.6%,
U.K.’s 26.3%, Japan’s 26.9%).
• After taxes and transfers, however, our
poverty rate only declines to 17.1%. Of the 20
advanced countries, we are last in reduction.
• For example, Sweden goes down to 5.3%,
Germany to 11%, U.K. to 8.3%, and Japan to
14.9%. (Source: Org. for Economic
Cooperation & Development - OECD)
31
The Best and the Worst in 2009 on Poverty Rates
Poorest Percent in Least Poor States, Percent in
States, 2009 Poverty 2009 Poverty
Mississippi 21.9 New Hampshire 8.5
61
Source: Institute for Policy Studies
62
What About “Relative”
Income Inequality?
63
What About “Relative”
Income Inequality?
• It was PresidentJohn Kennedy who termed the phrase—
”A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats”—meaning the poor also
benefit from economic growth.
What About “Relative”
Income Inequality?
• It was President John Kennedy who termed the phrase—
”A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats”—meaning the poor also
benefit from economic growth.
• It is true that our Real GDP doubled between 1983-2007
while our population increased only by one-third, i.e., per
capita real GDP actually did grow over this past quarter
century.
What About “Relative”
Income Inequality?
• It was John Kennedy who termed the phrase—”A Rising
Tide Lifts All Boats”—meaning the poor also benefit from
economic growth.
• It is true that our Real GDP doubled between 1983-2007
while our population increased only by one-third, i.e., per
capita real GDP actually did grow over this past quarter
century.
• On average, then, Americans should be better off—but
this is definitely not the case.
What About “Relative”
Income Inequality?
• It was John Kennedy who termed the phrase—”A Rising Tide
Lifts All Boats”—meaning the poor also benefit from economic
growth.
• It is true that our Real GDP doubled between 1983-2007 while
our population increased only by one-third, i.e., per capita real
GDP actually did grow over this past quarter century.
• On average, then, Americans should be better off—but this is
definitely not the case.
• To get a better idea of who benefits vs. those who do not,
researchers often divide income recipients into fifths (called
Quintiles, or 20% segments).
What About “Relative”
Income Inequality?
• It was John Kennedy who termed the phrase—”A Rising Tide Lifts
All Boats”—meaning the poor also benefit from economic growth.
• It is true that our Real GDP doubled between 1983-2007 while
our population increased only by one-third, i.e., per capita real
GDP actually did grow over this past quarter century.
• On average, then, Americans should be better off—but this is
definitely not the case.
• To get a better idea of who benefits vs. those who do not, income
recipients are often divided into fifths (Quintiles, or 20%
segments).
• If income were even, each pie slice would be the same size.
Percent of all Household Income Received
by each Quintile (5th): 2009
Lowest 5th,
3.4%
Second 5th,
8.6%
Middle 5th,
14.6%
Highest 5th,
50.3%
Fourth 5th,
23.2%
25.0
23.0
21.0
19.0
17.0
15.0
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
74
Source: Calculated from Census Data in 2010 Income and Poverty Report P60-238
(Y-Axis)
(X-Axis)
75
Household Gini Ratio by Year: 1968-2009
0.5
0.49
0.48
0.47
0.46
0.45
Gini 0.44
Ratio 0.43
0.42
0.41
0.4
0.39
0.38
0.37
0.36
76 0.35
1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007
Family Income Gini Score by Country: 2009
78
Source: CIA- The World Fact Book 2009
Most Equal Country Gini Most Unequal Country Gini
Sweden .230 Namibia .707
Norway .250 South Africa .650
Luxembourg .260 Lesotho .632
Czech Republic .260 Botswana .630
Slovakia .260 Sierra Leone .629
Serbia .260 Central Africa Republic .613
Malta .260 Bolivia .592
Austria .260 Haiti .592
Albania .267 Columbia .585
Germany .270 Brazil .567
Belarus .279 Bosnia & Herzegovina .562
Iceland .280 Panama .561
Hungary .280 Guatemala .551
Belgium .280 Chile .549
Slovenia .284 Honduras .538
79
Source: CIA, The World Factbook 2009
Why worry about relative income inequality?
Research shows that high relative income inequality is associated with:
80
Why worry about relative income inequality?
Research shows that high relative income inequality is associated with:
1993
59 1983 1986
2000 2004
1990 1998 2002
57 1975
1988 1991
1978 1989
55
53 1976 1987
1980
51 1973
1972
49 1984
47
45
0.39 0.4 0.41 0.42 0.43 0.44 0.45 0.46 0.47 0.48
Household Gini Ratio
94
Source: General Social Survey (GSS) Data
Percent of Those Eligible who Voted in 2008
75.0
by State Household Income Gini Score
MN
70.0 NH ME
WI LA
IA MS
SD ND
65.0
% Eligible who Voted
NE MT MI
OH MO VA NC
WY VT WA RI SC
AK MD OR CO
PA KY MA AL PA
60.0 KS GA
IN
ID
NM IL
OK NJ FL
55.0
AZ TN
NV WV
AR
CA
50.0 UT NY
TX
HI
45.0
0.41 0.43 0.45 0.47 0.49
Household Gini Ratio 2007
95
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports
96
Obesity Rates By Inequality in U.S. States
35
33 MS
AL
31 WV
TN
OK
SC KY
Percent Obese 2008
29 OR
MO AR NC LA
SD MI
PA TX
27 NEDE ND KS GA
AK IN IL
IA MD
WI WA
25 WY
ME NV VA NM
OR AZ FL NY
NH ID MN CA
23 MT
VT NJ
UT
HI
RI
21 MA CT
19 CO
17
15
97
0.41 0.42 0.43 0.44 0.45 0.46 0.47 0.48 0.49 0.5
Household Gini Ratio 2007
Source: Center for Disease Control
2010 Unemployment Rate
in States by Gini Ratio
14 NV
MI
CA
12 RI
% Unemployed 2010
FL MS
OH OR SC AL
IL
10 IN NC GA TN
AZ NJ
MO PA MA
ID WA CT
DE WV TX
8 AK ME CO NM
WI NY
UT MT AR
WY IA MN VA OK LA
HI KS
6 NH
VT
NE
SD
4
ND
2
0.41 0.42 0.43 0.44 0.45 0.46 0.47 0.48 0.49 0.5
Source: Bureau of
Labor Statistics
Household Income Gini Ratio 2007
99
100
What is to be Done?
Policies at the National Level
• Allow the Bush-era tax cuts for the very rich to expire.
• Since 1995, the richest 400 households have had their
taxes cut 45%, or $46 million per household per year.
• Even for those earning $1 million per year, their tax cut
equals $128,000 annually.
• For those with middle class incomes, our yearly tax cut
savings comes to $300.
• If these “temporary” tax cuts are discontinued, $1 trillion
will be gained over the next decade, making it easier to
101
finally balance our national budget.
What is to be Done?
Policies at the National Level
Allow the Bush-era tax cuts for the very rich to expire.
Cut defense spending/stop fighting needless wars
(Stiglitz estimates the Iraq War has cost $3 trillion)
What is to be Done?
Policies at the National Level
Allow the Bush-era tax cuts for the very rich to expire.
Cut defense spending/stop fighting needless wars
(Stiglitz estimates the Iraq War has cost $3 trillion)
Invest in R & D (cutting-edge Green Technology)
What is to be Done?
Policies at the National Level
Allow the Bush-era tax cuts for the very rich to expire.
Cut defense spending/stop fighting needless wars
(Stiglitz estimates the Iraq War has cost $3 trillion)
Invest in R & D (cutting-edge Green Technology)
Re-industrialize our country, especially hi-tech areas!
What is to be Done?
Policies at the National Level
Allow the Bush-era tax cuts for the very rich to expire.
Cut defense spending/stop fighting needless wars
(Stiglitz estimates the Iraq War has cost $3 trillion)
Invest in R & D (cutting-edge Green Technology)
Re-industrialize our country, especially hi-tech areas!
Continue to fully fund our public university system—the
envy of the world and the font of our national
productivity.
What is to be Done?
Policies at the National Level
Allow the Bush-era tax cuts for the very rich to expire.
Cut defense spending/stop fighting needless wars
(Stiglitz estimates the Iraq War has cost $3 trillion)
Invest in R & D (cutting-edge Green Technology)
Re-industrialize our country, especially hi-tech areas!
Continue to fully fund our public university system—the
envy of the world and the font of our national
productivity.
Reduce our national debt.
What is to be Done?
Policies at the National Level
Allow the Bush-era tax cuts for the very rich to expire.
Cut defense spending/stop fighting needless wars
(Stiglitz estimates the Iraq War has cost $3 trillion)
Invest in R & D (cutting-edge Green Technology)
Re-industrialize our country, especially hi-tech areas!
Continue to fully fund our public university system—the
envy of the world and the font of our national
productivity.
Reduce our national debt.
Reinstate more progressive tax rates to protect the middle class
(see Robert Reich, AFTERSHOCK, NY: Knopf, 2010).
What is to be Done?
Personal Actions You Can Take
What is to be Done?
Personal Actions You Can Take