This graph sums up the situation amazingly. It shows how Americans view wealth in their country. Three graphs - one powerful message.
Thinking in the USA re wealth is skewed for the very wealthy and the very poor. i.e. Americans think that the poorest 20% have about 5% of all US wealth - its less than a 20th of that. The poorest in the USA are very poor. At the other end of the scale, Americans think the wealthiest 10% have just over half of the US wealth- the reality it is over 80%.
The middle class of the US are very, very squeezed. The second and third tiers of US Society (40% of the population share less than 15% of all wealth.
I suspect we would see the same pattern across the globe?
Do our economic systems need re thinking to ensure that all people can build wealth and prosper? Puts the recent tax debates into some interesting context doesn't it?
Thinking in the USA re wealth is skewed for the very wealthy and the very poor. i.e. Americans think that the poorest 20% have about 5% of all US wealth - its less than a 20th of that. The poorest in the USA are very poor. At the other end of the scale, Americans think the wealthiest 10% have just over half of the US wealth- the reality it is over 80%.
The middle class of the US are very, very squeezed. The second and third tiers of US Society (40% of the population share less than 15% of all wealth.
I suspect we would see the same pattern across the globe?
Do our economic systems need re thinking to ensure that all people can build wealth and prosper? Puts the recent tax debates into some interesting context doesn't it?
