Overview

Over the past 75 years, household income in the United States has increased substantially. Still, by some measures, income inequality has increased as well. This has been the subject of contested public policy and political discourse. The question still stands: How can we better articulate the nuanced changes in American incomes? It is difficult to have conversations about income inequality without an agreed-upon set of terms, metrics, and concepts. United States Income, Wealth, Consumption, and Inequality, edited by Diana Furchtgott-Roth, examines the trends in income growth in the United States and explores various measures of income, including market, post-tax, and post-transfer income. Within each chapter, distinguished experts explain how income and wealth--and the way we measure them--have changed in the United States, which demographic groups have benefited from these changes, and how mobility has changed over time and over generations. Specific chapters explain the roles of gender and race. The resulting book is relevant to modern international policy, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and addresses what can be done to increase economic mobility in the United States.

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9780197518199

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This book provides readers fodder for many engaging discussions on income inequality. * Lisa Bernstein, Wilson-Dickinson Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School * This book provides a remarkable collection of essays on inequality by leading scholars. If you are looking for a thoughtful introduction to all of the issues surrounding inequality in America, this book is a great place to start. The authors span the ideological spectrum, and so the book as a whole provides a far more complete view of inequality than most prior work. The book includes everything from serious discussions of measurement to detailed policy analysis of particular approaches to inequality. This collection combines academic insight with practical policy and will be a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in inequality today. * Edward Glaeser, Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics, Harvard University * Whatever your view on inequality, this indispensable volume will improve it. The volume combines carefully measured, diverse empirical studies from top scholars that integrate inequality considerations with related issues in trade, migration, labor participation, and public goods provision. Truly a must-read. * Charles W. Calomiris, Henry Kaufman Professor of Financial Institutions, Columbia Business School * This fascinating book of key facts and ideas on income inequality, beautifully explained by an impressive range of leading experts, is essential reading now more than ever. The pandemic has laid bare the intrinsic link between income inequality and unequal opportunities, especially in education. Necessary actions delve into the very foundation of economics. * John Taylor, Mary and Robert Raymond Professor of Economics, Stanford University *

Author Information

Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Economist Diana Furchtgott-Roth is an economist and author of five books on economic policy. She previously served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the US Department of the Treasury and now serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the US Department of Transportation.

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