Trends
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Audio Clip: Robert Greenstein Discusses Poverty in America on The Diane Rehm Show
September 14, 2009
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Poverty Rose, Median Income Declined, and Job-Based Health Insurance Continued to Weaken in 2008
September 10, 2009
Poverty increased, median household income fell, and the percentage of Americans with employer-based health coverage continued to decline in 2008, according to Census data for 2008 issued today. The figures reflect the initial effects of the recession. Median household income declined 3.6 percent in 2008 after adjusting for … -
Statement: Greenstein on Census’ 2008 Health Insurance and Poverty Data
September 10, 2009
Today’s grim Census Bureau report shows the nation lost substantial ground in 2008 on poverty, median income, and the number of people who are uninsured. Several aspects of the Census report stand out. The number of people living in poverty jumped by 2.6 million to 39.8 million — the highest since 1960. The poverty rate … -
Podcast: Examining the New 2008 Census Data on Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance Coverage
September 10, 2009
Robert Greenstein discusses today’s grim Census Bureau report that shows the nation lost substantial ground in 2008 on poverty, median income, and the number of people who are uninsured. Several aspects of the Census report are highlighted.
Duration: 11:59
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Top 1 Percent of Americans Reaped Two-Thirds of Income Gains in Last Economic Expansion
September 9, 2009
Two-thirds of the nation’s total income gains from 2002 to 2007 flowed to the top 1 percent of U.S. households, and that top 1 percent held a larger share of income in 2007 than at any time since 1928, according to an analysis of newly released IRS data by economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez.[1] During those years, the … -
Safety Net Effective at Fighting Poverty But Has Weakened for the Very Poorest
July 6, 2009
As mounting job losses threaten to push more Americans into poverty and make poor families still poorer, a new examination of the public benefits system finds that it is more effective in reducing poverty than previously known but has become less effective over the past decade in protecting Americans from deep poverty. … -
Income Gaps Hit Record Levels In 2006, New Data Show
April 17, 2009
New data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) show that in 2006, the top 1 percent of households had a larger share of the nation’s after-tax income, and the middle and bottom fifths of households had smaller shares, than in any year since 1979, the first year the CBO data cover. As a result, the gaps in after-tax incomes between … -
Testimony: Sharon Parrott at the Hearing "Building a Foundation for Families: Fighting Hunger, Investing in Children" before the House Budget Committee
February 12, 2009
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about the current recession, its impacts on poverty and families, and the recovery package. The current recession already has pushed up the unemployment rate from 4.9 percent in December 2007 to 7.6 percent in January 2008. Alternative measures of the labor market paint a bleaker picture.… -
Recession Could Cause Large Increases in Poverty and Push Millions into Deep Poverty
November 24, 2008
[T]he current downturn is likely to cause significant increases both in the number of Americans who are poor and the number living in "deep poverty," with incomes below half of the poverty line...There are a series of steps that federal and state policymakers could take to soften the recession’s harshest impacts and limit the extent of the increases in deep poverty, destitution, and homelessness.
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Podcast: How Will the Economic Downturn Affect Poverty? Can Today's Safety Net Cope?
November 24, 2008
This podcast discusses the findings of an analysis, which: examines the impact of recent recessions on poverty and deep poverty (incomes below half of the poverty line); discusses recent changes in the safety net that could weaken its ability to address the increase in need during this downturn; and outlines steps Congress can take as part of an upcoming economic recovery … -
Video: Testimony of Robert Greenstein on Widening Income Inequality in the United States
October 29, 2008
Thank you for the invitation to testify about widening income inequality in the United States, including the impact of recent developments in financial markets and the economy. As former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has said, “this is not the type of thing which a democratic society — a capitalist democratic society — can really … -
Average Income in 2006 up $60,000 for Top 1 Percent of Households, Just $430 for Bottom 90 Percent: Income Concentration at Highest Level Since 1928, New Analysis Shows
Revised October 22, 2008
Average pre-tax incomes in 2006 jumped by about $60,000 (5.8 percent) for the top 1 percent of households, but just $430 (1.4 percent) for the bottom 90 percent, after adjusting for inflation, according to a new update in the groundbreaking series on income inequality by economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez. Their analysis of … -
How Robust Was the 2001-2007 Economic Expansion?
Updated August 29, 2008
Proponents of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts often argue that the economic and employment growth of the past several years establishes that these tax cuts “worked” and had strong beneficial effects. More recently, some have also argued that, with growth slowing, new tax cuts are needed and would reinvigorate the economy. It now appears likely that the economic expansion that … -
Poverty and Share of Americans Without Health Insurance Were Higher in 2007 - And Median Income for Working-Age Households Was Lower - Than at the Bottom of Last Recession
August 26, 2008
The number of Americans in poverty climbed by 816,000 in 2007, while the poverty rate remained statistically unchanged, overall median income rose modestly, and the number and percentage of Americans without health insurance fell somewhat, according to Census data issued today. But the poverty rate remained higher, median income for working-age … -
What to Watch For in the New Census Income and Poverty Numbers
August 21, 2008
On August 26 the Census Bureau will release findings on household income and poverty for 2007. These figures may well show that median income increased modestly and poverty declined modestly in 2007, the typical pattern for years well into an economic expansion. While improvements in incomes and poverty would … -
Testimony of Robert Greenstein on Wdening Income Inequality in the United States Before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Committee on Education and Labor
July 31, 2008
Thank you for the invitation to testify about widening income inequality in the United States. As former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has said, “this is not the type of thing which a democratic society — a capitalist democratic society — can really accept without addressing," and I commend the subcommittee for … -
Video: CNN Features Elizabeth McNichol on Rising Income Inequality
April 23, 2008
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State Fact Sheets: Income Inequality Over the Past Two Decades
April 9, 2008
Income Inequality Within the States: Ratio: Incomes of Top Fifth of Families Compared to Incomes of Bottom Fifth of Families State-specific fact sheets containing information on income inequality over the past two decades, including the changes in average incomes and income ratios, are provided through the links below. … -
Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends
April 9, 2008
I. Executive Summary A state-by-state examination of trends in income inequality over the past two business cycles finds that inequality has grown in most parts of the country since the late 1980s. The incomes of the country’s highest-income families have climbed substantially, while middle- and lower-income families have … -
Press Release: Income Inequality Grew in Most States Over Past Two Decades
April 9, 2008
The gap between the richest and poorest families, and between the richest and middle-income families, grew significantly in most states over the past two decades, according to a new study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. In fact, the nation’s … -
Poverty and Hardship Affect Tens of Millions of Americans
December 20, 2007
During the holidays, many Americans make a special effort to help the less fortunate. Sadly, there is no shortage of families in need.[i] According to the latest government figures: 36.5 million Americans — roughly one in eight — live in poverty.[ii] Despite relatively strong economic growth since 2001, poverty has remained stubbornly high, and today’s … -
Income Inequality Hits Record Levels, New CBO Data Show:
December 14, 2007
Real after-tax incomes jumped by an average of nearly $180,000 for the top 1 percent of households in 2005, while rising just $400 for middle-income households and $200 for lower-income households, according to new data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).[1] This starkly uneven growth brought income inequality to its highest level since at … -
New Data Show Income Concentration Jumped Again In 2005
Revised October 24, 2007
Economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez recently made available an updated version of their groundbreaking data series on U.S. income inequality.[1] The data are unique because of the detailed information they provide regarding income gains at the top of the income scale and because they extend back to 1913. The data offer important insight into the distribution … -
More Americans, Including More Children, Now Lack Health Insurance
Revised August 31, 2007
The number of uninsured Americans rose for the sixth consecutive year in 2006, to 47.0 million,[1], [2] and the number of uninsured children rose for the second straight year, to 8.7 million, according to Census data released on August 28. Between 1998, the year the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was implemented, and 2004, the number of uninsured children fell every … -
Number and Percentage of Americans Who Are Uninsured Climbs Again in 2006
Revised August 31, 2007
New Census data show that in 2006, both the number and the percentage of Americans who are uninsured hit their highest levels since 1999, the first year for which comparable data are available, with 2.2 million more Americans — and 600,000 more children — joining the ranks of the uninsured in 2006. The new Census figures also show that while the overall poverty rate declined slightly … -
Statement by Robert Greenstein on the 2006 Census Bureau Data on Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance
Revised August 31, 2007
The new Census figures are disappointing for the fifth year of an economic recovery —showing a significant decline in poverty for people over 65 but no significant decline in poverty for children or adults aged 18 to 64, and only a modest improvement in median income. In 2006, the poverty rate … -
Hawaii's Income Tax on the Working Poor: A Post-Session Update
July 18, 2007
On June 26, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed SB 1882, which expands Hawaii's refundable low-income tax credit. The bill's passage follows a long debate about how best to cut taxes on Hawaii’s low-income working families, who face higher income taxes than such families in almost any other state.[1] SB 1882 provides important … -
New Study Finds "Dramatic" Reduction Since 1960 In The Progressivity of the Federal Tax System
March 29, 2007
In a new study, Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez, economists who have done groundbreaking work on the historical evolution of income inequality in the United States, examine how the progressivity of the federal tax system has changed over time.[1] Unlike previous analyses, theirs examines effective federal tax rates going back to 1960, including income, payroll, corporate, … -
Share of National Income Going To Wages and Salaries at Record Low in 2006
Revised March 29, 2007
Commerce Department data released today show that the share of national income going to wages and salaries in 2006 was at its lowest level on record with data going back to 1929.[1] The share of national income captured by corporate profits, in contrast, was at its highest level on record.[2] These findings reflect weak overall growth in wages and salaries — and rapid growth in … -
A State EITC Is a Cost-Effective Way to Ease Hawaii’s High Income Tax Burden on the Poor
February 14, 2007
Hawaii continues to impose a higher income tax burden on low-income working families than almost any other state. A costly tax cut enacted in 2006 did little to address this problem. As a result, Hawaii continues to collect income tax from families with income thousands of dollars below the poverty line. And families in poverty … -
New CBO Data Show Income Inequality Continues to Widen
January 23, 2007
The Congressional Budget Office recently released extensive data on household incomes for 2004.[1] CBO issues the most comprehensive and authoritative data available on the levels of and changes in incomes and taxes for different income groups, capturing trends at the very top of the income scale that are not shown in Census data. The new CBO data document that income inequality continued to … -
A Tough Recovery By Any Measure: New Data Show Consumer Expenditures Lag for Low- and Middle-Income Families
November 28, 2006
Data on wages, compensation and income paint a disappointing picture of the current economic expansion, especially from the perspective of low- and middle income families. By most measures, real incomes were lower in 2005 than in the recession year of 2001, and real wages, after rising through mid-2003, fell consistently until very recently. These unfortunate trends have occurred amid … -
African American and Latino Families Face High Rates of Hardship
November 21, 2006
A range of measures suggest that many black and Latino families face hardship of some type. Between one-fourth and one-third of families with children headed by blacks or by Latino citizens experience overcrowded living conditions, difficulties paying for food, or lack of needed medical care. Hardship rates rise further — to as many as half of black families with children … -
Poverty Remains Higher, and Median Income for Non-Elderly is Lower, Than When Recession Hit Bottom: Poor Performance Unprecedented for Four-Year Recovery Period
Revised September 1, 2006
This analysis was updated on August 26, 2008 to reflect 2007 Census Data. Click here to view the new analysis. Summary Overall median household income rose modestly in 2005 — but significantly less than normal for a year during an economic recovery — while the … -
Nine Years of Neglect: Federal Minimum Wage Remains Unchanged for Ninth Straight Year, Falls to Lowest Level in More than Half a Century
August 31, 2006
The federal minimum wage has remained at $5.15 an hour since September 1, 1997. So as of September 1, 2006, the minimum wage will have remained the same for nine years, while the costs of medical care, gasoline, and other necessities have grown considerably. Further, the minimum wage has fallen exceptionally far below … -
The Number of Uninsured Americans Is At An All-Time High
August 29, 2006
Data released today by the Census Bureau show that the number of uninsured Americans stood at a record 46.6 million in 2005, with 15.9 percent of Americans lacking health coverage. “The number of uninsured Americans reached an all-time high in 2005,” said Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and … -
How to Assess the Census Income and Poverty Numbers
August 28, 2006
Today, the Census Bureau will release findings regarding household income and poverty for 2005. It is possible these figures will show that median income increased in 2005 and poverty declined; that is the typical pattern for years well into an economic recovery. And if this is the case, Administration officials likely will hail the figures as good … -
The Recent Upturn in Revenues and OMB's Mid-Session Review
Revised July 14, 2006
Summary The Mid-Session Review issued on July 11 by the White House Office of Management and Budget projects that fiscal year 2006 revenues will be significantly above — and the 2006 deficit significantly below — the levels forecast in the President’s budget in February. This year’s strong … -
Buying Power of Minimum Wage at 51 Year Low
June 20, 2006
The minimum wage issue is heating up in Congress. This Congressional attention is long overdue. The federal minimum wage has remained at $5.15 an hour since September 1, 1997. So for nearly nine years the value of the minimum wage has eroded due to the effects of inflation, and the wage standard has … -
Social Security Administration Proposal To Revise Disability Determinations Is Not Justified
April 18, 2006
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is proposing to change how it evaluates age as a factor in establishing eligibility for disability benefits. Under the change, SSA would raise by two years the ages at which key rules used to determine eligibility for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security … -
Recent Tax and Income Trends among High-Income Taxpayers
April 10, 2006
Administration officials have consistently sought to portray the distribution of benefits from the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts as balanced or even progressive. Recently, for example, the Treasury Department released a “Tax Relief Kit,” which includes a fact sheet entitled “Who Pays Most Individual Income Taxes?” The fact sheet … -
Tax Reform and Poverty
April 10, 2006
The tax system has a pervasive impact on poverty, both directly through its role in the distribution of society’s resources and indirectly through its effects on the incentives for economic decisions like working and saving. The two most important facets of the tax system for low-income families are payroll taxes and the Earned Income Tax Credit … -
Poor Measurement: New Census Report on Measuring Poverty Raises Concerns
March 28, 2006
On February 14, the Bureau of the Census released its latest report on alternative measures of poverty.[1] Among social scientists, there is considerable dissatisfaction with the official approach to poverty measurement, and this document is part of a welcome research initiative by Census analysts to improve the way that poverty in America is measured and understood. The Census … -
Has the Safety Net Greatly Expanded over the Last Five Years?
March 7, 2006
The Heritage Foundation recently issued a paper by Brian Riedl claiming that programs for the poor have expanded greatly on President Bush’s watch and have done very well in the budget changes of recent years. This claim has been promoted in several op-eds by Riedl and repeated in various media interviews. Riedl often … -
New CBO Data Indicate Growth in Long-Term Income Inequality Continues
January 29, 2006
The Congressional Budget Office recently released extensive data on household incomes and tax liabilities for 2003.[1] CBO issues the most comprehensive data available on changes in incomes and taxes for different income groups, capturing trends at the very top of the income scale that are not shown, for example, in Census data. The new CBO report highlights the degree to which … -
New, Unnoticed CBO Data Show Capital Income Has Become Much More Concentrated At the Top
January 29, 2006
Congress is considering whether to extend reductions in the tax rates on capital gains and dividend income beyond their scheduled expiration date at the end of 2008. Proponents of these extensions often argue that stock ownership is widespread and thus the benefits of extending these tax cuts will be widespread as well. In other analyses, we have … -
Press Release: Income Inequality Grew Across The Country Over The Past Two Decades: Early Signs Suggest Inequality Now Growing Again After Brief Interruption
January 26, 2006
In most states, the gap between the highest-income families and poor and middle-income families grew significantly between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, according to a new study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. The study is one of the few to … -
Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends
January 26, 2006
Executive Summary The worst effects of the 2001 recession have largely been left behind. The return of economic growth is good news, but this good news is tempered by the fact that the troubling trends in income distribution during the last decades of the 20th century persist in the current … -
Hardship Indicators Point to a Difficult Holiday Season: National Policy Response is Off Kilter
November 21, 2005
A variety of measures suggest that tens of millions of American families will confront significant hardships this holiday season, with many unable to meet their basic food, health, and shelter needs. Government data show that: Poverty has now risen for four straight years; 37 million people were poor in 2004. Food … -
Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance Tables
October 19, 2005
Sources, Definitions, and Footnotes Poverty Tables: Download PDF | Download Excel Spreadsheet Table 1: Persons in Poverty, by Race and Hispanic Origin Table 2: Female-Headed Families with Children in Poverty, by Race and Hispanic Origin Table 3: … -
New IRS Data Show Income Inequality Is Again On The Rise
October 17, 2005
New figures from the Internal Revenue Service show that income disparities grew substantially from 2002 to 2003. After adjusting for inflation, the after-tax income of the one percent of households with the highest incomes shot up in 2003 by an average of nearly $49,000 per household while the after-tax incomes of the bottom … -
Essential Facts About The Victims of Hurricane Katrina
September 19, 2005
Many Hurricane Katrina victims faced difficult living conditions even before the storm arrived. Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama are, respectively, the first, second, and eighth poorest states in the nation. And of the 5.8 million individuals in these states who lived in the areas struck hardest by the hurricane, more … -
Statement: Robert Greenstein on Administration Mischaracterizations Regarding the Economy and New Data on Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance
August 31, 2005
Yesterday, the Census Bureau released data that showing that in 2004 — the third full year of the economic recovery — poverty increased, the earnings of full-time workers fell, the income of the typical non-elderly household also fell, and the number of Americans … -
Economic Recovery Failed To Benefit Much of The Population In 2004
August 30, 2005
Despite the fact that 2004 represented the third full year of economic recovery, the Census data released today show that poverty increased again last year and median income failed to rise. The new data are particularly troubling for workers, showing backward movement for American workers on several fronts[1]: Real … -
The Number of Uninsured Americans Continued To Rise In 2004
August 30, 2005
Data released today by the Census Bureau show that the number of uninsured Americans stood at 45.8 million in 2004, an increase of 800,000 people over the number uninsured in 2003 (45.0 million). The percentage of people without health insurance, 15.7 percent in 2004, was not significantly different from the 15.6 percent rate in 2003. … -
The Lukewarm 2004 Labor Market: Despite Some Signs of Improvement, Wages Fell, Job Growth Lagged, and Unemployment Spells Remained Long
Revised February 17, 2005
Issued Jointly With The labor market showed some signs of improvement in 2004; most notable in this regard was the job growth that occurred in every month of the year. This was the first year of consistent job growth since 2000, signaling the end of the jobless recovery. The unemployment rate also showed improvement, falling from an … -
Press Release: One In Nine Households At Risk of Hunger; Half of Poor Families Face Multiple Hardships
December 20, 2004
Roughly one in nine American households was hungry or at risk of hunger at some point last year, new government data show, while a Center analysis based on other government data on family hardships finds that half of poor families face multiple hardships, from hunger to unsafe housing. A … -
Hunger, Crowding, and Other Hardships Are Widespread Among Families in Poverty
December 20, 2004
Two recent, little noticed government reports spotlight the strained living conditions of millions of U.S. families. One report shows that the number of Americans threatened by hunger inched upward for four straight years from 1999 to 2003, with one in eight people falling in this category in 2003. The … -
State Policies to Assist Working-Poor Families
December 10, 2004
Introduction For a large and growing number of Americans, having a job is not enough to lift them out of poverty. This report presents a menu of practical policy options that states can adopt to help working-poor families meet their basic needs and improve their lives. The number of people in working-poor families has grown significantly in the last two decades. In 2003, 13.1 … -
Share of Economy Going to Wages and Salaries Drops for Unprecedented 14th Straight Quarter
October 29, 2004
The Commerce Department data released today on the nation’s Gross Domestic Product — which measures the overall size of the economy — indicate the continuation of a troubling trend for the country’s workers. The new data are for the third quarter of 2004 and show that a steadily dropping share of the … -
Unemployment Insurance Does Not Explain Why TANF Caseloads Are Falling As Poverty and Need Are Rising
October 12, 2004
Between 2000 and 2003, the number and percentage of single mothers living in poverty increased while the percentage of single mothers with jobs fell. At the same time, poverty among children rose, and the number of children living below half of the poverty line increased by nearly one million. In response to this increase in …
