08-05-2010, 02:25 AM
15 Mind-Blowing Facts About Wealth And Inequality In America
By Gus Lubin
May 07, 2010 "SFGate" -- Real average earnings have not increased in 50 years
The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.
Cliché, sure, but it's also more true than at any time since the Gilded Age.
The poor are getting poorer, wages are falling behind inflation, and social mobility is at an all-time low.
The gap between 1% and everyone else hasn't been this bad since the roaring Twenties
![[Image: the-gap-between-1-and-everyone-else-hasn...enties.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbca7937f8b9aac23930500-400-300/the-gap-between-1-and-everyone-else-hasnt-been-this-bad-since-the-roaring-twenties.jpg)
Source: The Nation
Half of America has only 2.5% of the wealth
![[Image: half-of-america-has-only-25-of-the-wealth.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcb3f17f8b9a562fb70000-400-300/half-of-america-has-only-25-of-the-wealth.jpg)
Source: Institute for Policy Studies
Half of America has only 0.5% of the stocks and bonds
![[Image: half-of-america-has-only-05-of-the-stocks-and-bonds.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcb4527f8b9a4e2f9e0100-400-300/half-of-america-has-only-05-of-the-stocks-and-bonds.jpg)
Source: Institute for Policy Studies
Look at the gap grow!
![[Image: look-at-the-gap-grow.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcb17c7f8b9a6218b70000-400-300/look-at-the-gap-grow.jpg)
Source: Professor G. William Domhoff
The last two decades were great... except for American workers
![[Image: the-last-two-decades-were-great-except-f...orkers.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcaeb47f8b9a812b5a0100-400-300/the-last-two-decades-were-great-except-for-american-workers.jpg)
Real average earnings have not increased in 50 years
![[Image: real-average-earnings-have-not-increased...-years.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcb53d7f8b9a2e1beb0c00-400-300/real-average-earnings-have-not-increased-in-50-years.jpg)
But savings rates are sinking
![[Image: but-savings-rates-are-sinking.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcb4d27f8b9ab517470900-400-300/but-savings-rates-are-sinking.jpg)
Poor Americans have a SLIM CHANCE of rising to the upper middle class
![[Image: poor-americans-have-a-slim-chance-of-ris...-class.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcbdbb7f8b9acb194a0300-400-300/poor-americans-have-a-slim-chance-of-rising-to-the-upper-middle-class.jpg)
Source: NBER
Republican tax cuts have significantly increased the gap
![[Image: republican-tax-cuts-have-significantly-i...he-gap.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbca8ea7f8b9a7b16790400-400-300/republican-tax-cuts-have-significantly-increased-the-gap.jpg)
Source:
Taxes get better and better for the rich
![[Image: taxes-get-better-and-better-for-the-rich.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcac9f7f8b9ad2290f0000-400-300/taxes-get-better-and-better-for-the-rich.jpg)
America spreads the wealth FAR LESS than other developed countries
![[Image: america-spreads-the-wealth-far-less-than...ntries.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcaace7f8b9ad31a6f0300-400-300/america-spreads-the-wealth-far-less-than-other-developed-countries.jpg)
America's income spread is nearly twice the OECD average
![[Image: americas-income-spread-is-nearly-twice-t...verage.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcaa2f7f8b9a0726e30400-400-300/americas-income-spread-is-nearly-twice-the-oecd-average.jpg)
Source: Economist
The gap is NOT growing in many countries, like France
![[Image: the-gap-is-not-growing-in-many-countries...france.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcb8787f8b9ab21b580c00-400-300/the-gap-is-not-growing-in-many-countries-like-france.jpg)
Inequality is worst around Wall Street and Oil Land
![[Image: inequality-is-worst-around-wall-street-and-oil-land.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbca8257f8b9a0c26440200-400-300/inequality-is-worst-around-wall-street-and-oil-land.jpg)
If you aren't in the top 1%, then you're getting a bum deal
![[Image: if-you-arent-in-the-top-1-then-youre-get...m-deal.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bbcabdd7f8b9a0b26b30600-400-300/if-you-arent-in-the-top-1-then-youre-getting-a-bum-deal.jpg)
Now read...
![[Image: now-read.jpg]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4ba23c4f7f8b9aa760670300-400-300/now-read.jpg)
20 Cities That Have Completely Missed The Recovery
By Gus Lubin
May 07, 2010 "SFGate" -- Real average earnings have not increased in 50 years
The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.
Cliché, sure, but it's also more true than at any time since the Gilded Age.
The poor are getting poorer, wages are falling behind inflation, and social mobility is at an all-time low.
The gap between 1% and everyone else hasn't been this bad since the roaring Twenties
Source: The Nation
Half of America has only 2.5% of the wealth
Source: Institute for Policy Studies
Half of America has only 0.5% of the stocks and bonds
Source: Institute for Policy Studies
Look at the gap grow!
Source: Professor G. William Domhoff
The last two decades were great... except for American workers
Real average earnings have not increased in 50 years
But savings rates are sinking
Poor Americans have a SLIM CHANCE of rising to the upper middle class
Source: NBER
Republican tax cuts have significantly increased the gap
Source:
Taxes get better and better for the rich
America spreads the wealth FAR LESS than other developed countries
America's income spread is nearly twice the OECD average
Source: Economist
The gap is NOT growing in many countries, like France
Inequality is worst around Wall Street and Oil Land
If you aren't in the top 1%, then you're getting a bum deal
Now read...
20 Cities That Have Completely Missed The Recovery