Chapter 15: Problem 28
Identify some public policies that can reduce the level of economic inequality.
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Chapter 15: Problem 28
Identify some public policies that can reduce the level of economic inequality.
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What are the main reasons economists give for the increase in inequality of incomes?
The demand for skilled workers in the United States has been increasing. To increase the supply of skilled workers, many argue that immigration reform to allow more skilled labor into the United States is needed. Explain whether you agree or disagree.
Table 15.9 shows the share of income going to each quintile of the income distribution for the United Kingdom in 1979 and \(1991 .\) Use this data to calculate what the points on a Lorenz curve would be, and sketch the Lorenz curve. How did inequality in the United Kingdom shift over this time period? How can you see the patterns in the quintiles in the Lorenz curves? $$\begin{array}{l|l|l} \hline {}{} {\text { Share of Income }} & {}{} {1979} & {}{} {1991} \\ \hline \text { Top quintile } & 39.7 \% & 42.9 \% \\ \hline \text { Fourt quintile } & 24.8 \% & 22.7 \% \\ \hline \text { Middle quintile } & 17.0 \% & 16.3 \% \\ \hline \text { Second quintile } & 11.5 \% & 11.5 \% \\ \hline \text { Bottom quintile } & 7.0 \% & 6.6 \% \\ \hline \end{array}$$
A group of 10 people have the following annual incomes: \$24,000, \$18,000, \$50,000, \$100,000, \$12,000, S36,000, S80,000, S10,000, S24,000, S16,000. Calculate the share of total income that each quintile receives from this income distribution. Do the top and bottom quintiles in this distribution have a greater or larger share of total income than the top and bottom quintiles of the U.S. income distribution?
What are some reasons why a certain degree of inequality of income would be expected in a market economy?
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