Losing Middle America? From Job Polarization to Wage Inequality

Losing Middle America? From Job Polarization to Wage Inequality

Is the American Dream of opportunity and increasing prosperity out of reach for the average American worker?  Job polarization is prevalent in most wealthy countries, including the United States. Yet only in the U.S. has earnings inequality increased drastically as well. How much has wage inequality increased, and what does this mean for the American economy?  In the second brief of a new Next Social Contract Initiative series, Losing Middle America, Lauren Damme examines this trend in the U.S. and other OECD countries. To read the paper click here.