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Changing American Earnings Distributions: One-half Century of Experience

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Listed:
  • Bishop, John A
  • Formby, John P
  • Thistle, Paul D

Abstract

Recent increases in earnings inequality have been described as "enormous." Is it that we are experiencing a unique shift toward greater inequality or are we returning to a more normal state of affairs for the American economy? The recent availability of six decades of data together with important new developments in the theory and measurement of inequality invite a renewed look at the changes in earnings inequality over the past half century. Our findings for male earnings suggest a dramatic contraction in inequality after 1939 followed by a steady rise in earnings inequality through 1989. Focusing on per capita incomes as opposed to earnings eliminates much of the trend toward rising inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Bishop, John A & Formby, John P & Thistle, Paul D, 1997. "Changing American Earnings Distributions: One-half Century of Experience," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 501-514.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:22:y:1997:i:4:p:501-14
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    Cited by:

    1. Bolier Torres & Jhenny Cayambe & Susana Paz & Kelly Ayerve & Marco Heredia-R & Emma Torres & Marcelo Luna & Theofilos Toulkeridis & Antón García, 2022. "Livelihood Capitals, Income Inequality, and the Perception of Climate Change: A Case Study of Small-Scale Cattle Farmers in the Ecuadorian Andes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Juan Mora & Ana Moro-Egido, 2012. "Analyzing motives for money-transfers within families: the role of transfers for education," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 357-378, August.
    3. Luis Huesca, 2017. "Income redistribution and inequality in the Mexican tax-benefit system," Revista Cuadernos de Economia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, FCE, CID, vol. 36(72), October.

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