Social Policy

Inequality

On Topic

Economic inequality reflects factors as diverse as education, IQ, lack of opportunity and discrimination. But government policies also make a difference. Today the top 1 percent of Americans own 38 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 40 percent possesses less than 1 percent of U.S. wealth. Globally, economic disparities pose even greater challenges as they can contribute to cycles of poverty, disease, social unrest and political turmoil.

A Harvard student sells t-shirts that read, 'No one ever says, "I want to go to Yale when I grow up."' at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi).

Blog Post

The Case for Downward Mobility

September 30, 2013, Richard V. Reeves

Richard Reeves highlights the "glass floor" of social mobility: the idea that 39% of those raised in the top quintile as children remain there as adults. Reeves opens up discussions around the idea that there must be more downward mobility in order to accomodate the upward mobility of high-achieving individuals from lower-income backgrounds.

Recent Activity

Refine by: U.S. Poverty | Income Distribution | Opportunity and Well-being | U.S. Economic Performance

  • In the News

    Governments increasingly recognize that we have patterns of growth and opportunity that are leaving too many people behind.

    March 5, 2013, Kevin Watkins, Kapuscinski Development Lectures

  • In the News

    Rebalancing of the distribution of income may play a role in unlocking the U.S. economy’s growth potential in a sustainable way.

    November 30, 2012, Kemal Derviş, Reuters

  • In the News

    A growing number of economists suspect that once inequality passes a certain point it may jeopardize economic stability and economic growth.

    November 29, 2012, Kemal Derviş, New York Times

  • In the News

    We should reform the tax system, no question. We are going to need to move beyond the current set of tax instruments to raise the needed revenues—a VAT and or a carbon tax seem like the obvious ways to go.

    November 27, 2012, William G. Gale, New York Times

  • In the News

    Because differences in income in the U.S. are believed to be related to skill and effort, and because social mobility is assumed to be high, inequality seems to be more acceptable than in Europe.

    October 16, 2012, Isabel V. Sawhill, The Guardian

  • In the News

    What people care about is their after-tax income, not their actual tax bill, and on that basis, the Bush tax cuts helped the rich more than the middle class or the poor.

    October 6, 2012, Isabel V. Sawhill, ABC News

  • In the News

    I would not argue as an economist that the Buffett rule is great tax policy. However, it does speak clearly to the concern that is out there in the public about fairness.

    May 1, 2012, Isabel V. Sawhill, Reuters

  • Expert Q & A

    Supermarket Access in Low-Income Areas

    October 19, 2010, Alan Berube

  • Expert Q & A

    Urban Revitalization and Opportunity

    July 9, 2009, Bruce Katz

  • Interview | NPR's All Things Considered

    In '06, Rich Earned More, Paid Less Tax

    January 30, 2009, William G. Gale

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Inequality

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