U.S. Income Inequality Worse Than Many Latin American Countries

[marmar]

from HuffPost:



Latin America has long been viewed as a region plagued by some of the worst wealth inequality in the world.

But in recent years, those figures have turned around, while in the United States income inequality is on the rise.

Adam Isacson, analyst for the Washington Office on Latin America, notes the change on his blog. According to recent figures on income published by the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.S. income gap now exceeds that of several countries in the Americas. As Isacson writes:

The United States (wealthiest 20% earns 16 times more than the poorest 20%) is now in the middle of the pack. In 1980, the U.S. number was 10.5.

Uruguay -- whose famously humble president José “Pepe Mujica donates 90 percent of his salary to charity -- ranks as the most equitable country in Latin America, with the wealthiest 20 percent brining in 8 times more than the poorest 20 percent. Venezuela comes in at number two. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/us-income-inequality-wors_n_2561123.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

[woo me with science]

1. K&R

[samsingh]

2. kick

[woo me with science]

3. kick

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. K&R!

[limpyhobbler]

5. bummer

[hfojvt]

6. I am so glad

that they did not use the stupid Gini index.

I would also note that when they are rating inequality, they are talking about the top 20% and not just the top 1%.

The recent Obama tax cuts, give $2.4 trillion to the top 20% and only $111 billion to the bottom 20%.

Maybe Obama is hoping we can catch up to Brazil.

[Wounded Bear]

7. It's a bogus comparison....

because......uh......well.......because our population is so much bigger.

Yeah, that's it.

[edhopper]

8. No. it's bogus cause

we got FREEDOM, FREEDOM I tell ya!

[pampango]

9. That's great news. Now we're not only behind Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan but

much of Latin America as well in terms of income equality. Still wouldn't want to raise taxes on the rich now would we? Let's impose some more austerity.

[woo me with science]

10. kick