How States Can Fight Growing Economic Inequality

Income inequality in the United States has been on the rise since the 1970s, with the wealthy taking a growing share of national earnings. However, this increase has not played out the same way in all 50 states. Economic gaps have widened in some states much more than in others. We focus on differences in the redistributive policies that states adopt to help explain this variation among states. Using data on state policies and trends in income inequality from 1980 to 2005, we show that tax policies, labor market regulations, and programs for the poor can make a real difference in income inequality. - See more at: http://www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/content/how-states-can-fight-growing-economic-inequality#sthash.gM5ZkHQr.dpuf