Inequality row in America

It’s always nice to be proved right on something but it doesn’t often happen right on cue. After noting in yesterday’s post that inequality is a big debate in America many competing views have been expressed in relation to the Poverty, Income and Health Insurance report published by the US Census Bureau.

The New York Times ran a leader entitled “Where’s the Prosperity?” arguing that the benefits of wealth need to be widely shared:

“What is clear is that economic growth alone will not cut it for most American families. The benefits must be shared more broadly. This means more progressive taxation, increasing access to affordable health care, investing more in public education. “

Meanwhile, Mark Thoma on the Economists View blog has done a good job of summarising responses to the report including those of Paul Krugman and Brad DeLong.