In this edition of Brookings Data Now: fatalities in Afghanistan; making it to the middle class; the poor and near-poor; Syrian refugees; Americans who paid no income or payroll taxes; years to full employment.
| 2,143 U.S. fatalities in Afghanistan |
As of August 26, 2013, there have been at least 2,143 U.S. fatalities attributed to either fighting or non-hostile deaths in Afghanistan. Get more data in the latest Afghanistan Index. |
| 28% of blacks make it to the middle class |
By age 40, 63% of whites in America make it to the middle class. Only 28% of blacks do so at the same age. |
| 26 million more Americans in poverty since 2000 |
The increase, between 2000 and 2011, of the number of poor and near-poor in the United States. The 2011 figure is 107 million. Read how New York City’s next mayor can help make progress on this issue. |
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512,000 |
Estimate of the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan. There are also millions of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees in that country. |
| 14.4% of Americans pay neither income nor payroll taxes |
According to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, over 14% of American households paid neither income taxes nor payroll taxes in 2013. Of these households, over two-thirds are elderly. |
| ~ 8 years to restore full employment in America |
After calculating the current job gap at between 7 million and 7.5 million, Gary Burtless concludes that it will take 7½ to 8 years to restore full employment in America. |
Commentary
Brookings Data Now: U.S. Afghanistan Deaths, Syrian Refugees, Paying Taxes, and More
August 29, 2013