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The Evolution of Economic Inequality in the United States, 1969-2012 : Evidence from Data on Inter-industrial Earnings and Inter-regional Incomes

Author

Listed:
  • James K. Galbraith

    (LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, USA)

  • J. Travis Hale

    (LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, USA)

Abstract

This paper provides measures of earnings inequality in the United States across economic sectors, measured within states, from 1969 through 2012, and of income inequality across counties, from 1969 through 2007. These measures permit detailed decomposition of changes in inequality, highlighting the major gainers and losers in relative terms. They illustrate the roles played by the financial sector, by the technology boom, by war-time public spending and by the real estate bubble in driving the evolution of economic inequality in the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • James K. Galbraith & J. Travis Hale, 2014. "The Evolution of Economic Inequality in the United States, 1969-2012 : Evidence from Data on Inter-industrial Earnings and Inter-regional Incomes," World Economic Review, World Economics Association, vol. 2014(3), pages 1-1, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wea:worler:v:2014:y:2014:i:3:p:1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Galbraith,James K. & Berner,Maureen (ed.), 2001. "Inequality and Industrial Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521009935.
    2. Galbraith, James K., 2012. "Inequality and Instability: A Study of the World Economy Just Before the Great Crisis," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199855650.
    3. Galbraith,James K. & Berner,Maureen (ed.), 2001. "Inequality and Industrial Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521662741.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tom Kemeny & Michael Storper, 2024. "The Changing Shape of Spatial Income Disparities in the United States," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 100(1), pages 1-30, January.
    3. Kemeny, Tom & Storper, Michael, 2022. "The changing shape of spatial inequality in the United States," SocArXiv wnd8t_v1, Center for Open Science.
    4. Andres Gomez-Lievano & Juan Tellez & Eduardo Lora, 2015. "New Insights About Wage Inequality in Colombia," Growth Lab Working Papers 63, Harvard's Growth Lab.
    5. Merrino, Serena, 2022. "Monetary policy and wage inequality in South Africa," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    6. Tom Kemeny & Sergio Petralia & Michael Storper, 2022. "Disruptive innovation and spatial inequality," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2211, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jul 2022.
    7. Marwil J. Dávila-Fernández & Lionello F. Punzo, 2018. "Some New Insights on Financialisation and Income Inequality," Department of Economics University of Siena 792, Department of Economics, University of Siena.
    8. Connor, Dylan Shane & Kemeny, Tom & Storper, Michael, 2023. "Frontier workers, and the seedbeds of inequality and prosperity," SocArXiv d93sj_v1, Center for Open Science.
    9. Riatu M. Qibthiyyah, 2017. "Provinces and Local Government Revenues Structures and Intra-Province Economic Disparity," Economics and Finance in Indonesia, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, vol. 63, pages 81-96, June.
    10. Coveri, Andrea & Pianta, Mario, 2022. "Drivers of inequality: wages vs. profits in European industries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 230-242.
    11. Lo Vuolo Rubén M., 2015. "Piketty’s Capital, His Critics and Basic Income," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 10(1), pages 29-43, June.
    12. Kemeny, Tom & Storper, Michael, 2022. "The changing shape of spatial inequality in the United States," SocArXiv wnd8t, Center for Open Science.

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