Inequality and poverty in the United States. Public policies for inclusive growth.

Autor/inn/en	Denk, Oliver; Hagemann, Robert; Lenain, Patrick; Somma, Valentin
Institution	OECD / Economics Department
Titel	Inequality and poverty in the United States. Public policies for inclusive growth. Gefälligkeitsübersetzung: Ungleichheit und Armut in den USA. Politik für ein inklusives Wachstum.
Quelle	Paris (2013), 75 S. PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Reihe	OECD Economics Department working papers. 1052
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; Monographie
ISSN	1815-1973
DOI	10.1787/5k46957cwv8q-en
Schlagwörter	Gesellschaft; Soziale Ungleichheit; Bildungspolitik; Sozialhilfe; Armut; Sozialleistung; Sozialpolitik; Einkommensverteilung; Steuerpolitik; Verfügbares Einkommen; Transferleistung; Umverteilung; Institution; USA
Abstract	Income inequality and relative poverty in the United States are among the highest in the OECD and have substantially increased over the past decades. These developments have been associated with a number of other worrying statistics, including low intergenerational social mobility and weak real income growth for many households. A more inclusive pattern of growth would require less pronounced gaps in outcomes and opportunities across social groups and a broader sharing of the benefits of growth. The present paper analyses the causes of US income inequality and relative poverty in an OECD context, especially the role of the tax-and-transfer system, and suggests public policies to promote inclusive growth. To a significant degree, high income inequality is attributable to the large dispersion of earned income, which should be addressed by reforming education, so as to provide disadvantaged students with the skills needed to fully realise their potential. In addition, taxes and transfers contribute less to income redistribution than in other OECD countries. If well designed, reforms that promote inclusive growth could also help reduce the market distortions resulting from the current tax-and-transfer system. In particular, phasing out personal and corporate tax expenditures that disproportionately benefit high earners would lower income inequality and improve resource allocation. As well, social transfers could be more effective in alleviating poverty through better targeting of the truly needy while reducing administrative complexity. (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku).
Erfasst von	Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Nürnberg
Update	2013/4