From Dow Jones & Company:



The article challenges the widely-accepted belief that income inequality has drastically increased in the United States. Research by Gerald Auten and David Splinter found that the income share of the top 1% has barely changed since 1962, in contrast to other influential studies showing a significant increase. The author argues that the focus on the top 1% is not the most pressing issue, and suggests that the improvement in Americans’ well-being over the decades should be considered. The article also highlights that disparities in quality of life between median-income households and the top 1% have shrunk considerably, especially in recent decades. The author criticizes the obsession with the top 1% and suggests that the focus should be on increasing wages and incomes for those at the bottom who need it the most. The author also argues that the income inequality debate should focus more on providing the poor and the working class with opportunities for economic growth, rather than concentrating on the highest earners. Ultimately, the article encourages policymakers to shift their focus from the 1% to those most in need of help, such as the working class and those in poverty.



Original: Opinion: The top 1% of Americans aren’t to blame for income inequality