Income Going Quote by Larry M. Bartels
““The share of income going to the rich remained remarkably constant from the mid-1940s through the 1970s and then began to escalate rapidly. For example, the top 5% of taxpayers accounted for 23.0% of total income in 1981 but 37.2% in 2005. The top 1% accounted for 10.0% of total income in 1981 but 21.8% in 2005; after declining gradually over most of the twentieth century, their share of the pie more than doubled in the course of a single generation.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Divide, 2016
Income inequality rose sharply after mid‑1970s, with the rich capturing a larger share of total income.
In simple terms: Rich get richer over time.
Key Takeaway
Address policies that curb growing inequality.
Themes
economics
inequality
policy
history
Mood
concerned
inquisitive
Type
economic
analytical
When to use this quote
- tax reform debates
- public policy design
- economic research
- social advocacy
Key Concepts
wealth concentration
taxation
social mobility
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies effectively reduce top‑income share?
- How does inequality impact social cohesion?
A Different Perspective
Data may overlook regional variations and informal economies.
