Following up on my post earlier this week on the distribution of average income gains in the U.S. over time, Peter Nardi, SocStudent, Dolores R., and Kelsey C. sent in a set of images posted at Mother Jones that further illustrates the concentration of income and wealth. A breakdown of the average incomes (not total wealth) in 2008 of the bottom 90% of American earners compared to top 10%:
This distribution of total net worth is based on 2007 data, and thus obviously misses the huge changes that have occurred with the housing crisis and recession. The Mother Jones article suggests that the concentration would be even more drastic now, since home values made up a larger proportion of net worth among the less wealthy (see Table 6 on p. 48 of the source):
Changes in top tax rates and sources of tax revenue over time:
