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From Business Insider; h/t Gin and Tacos.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 7
Bill R — February 7, 2015
Oddly enough, just hitting the top 1% would not be enough money to enjoy a fairly high standard of living in the big cities in those states, especially if the earnings were W2-based and fully taxed. Such people would also have a difficult time becoming wealthy by saving and investing.
Chart of the Week: Earnings That Put Households in the 1% in Each State - Treat Them Better — February 9, 2015
[…] Chart of the Week: Earnings That Put Households in the 1% in Each State […]
Whitsey — February 9, 2015
Frankly, it's not enough!
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robert e — February 9, 2015
This is very misleading. When we talk about the 1% we mean wealth, but this chart shows household income. The publisher, in fact, warns us that the data comes from a single voluntary survey and refers us to a more accurate (and quite dismaying) report based on tax records: http://gabriel-zucman.eu/files/SaezZucman2014Slides.pdf
mograph — February 14, 2015
I'd like to see if these income levels are sufficient enough to exert influence on politicians or the political process.
Again, definition of terms is necessary: when we speak of "the 1%" do we speak of those wealthy individuals who can influence politics with money, or are we speaking of the top 1% of income earners in a specified region?
... but arguing over this definition just distracts from the real issues and preserves the status quo. Proceed carefully, citizens.
David — August 15, 2025
Nice Article
Kabelo Moloi — August 15, 2025
What a fascinating example of how legal and cultural definitions can override scientific facts. The tomato case really shows that “truth” often depends on context and power, not just biology. It reminds me of how everyday systems — even something as practical as SASSA Payment Dates in South Africa — are shaped by rules and interpretations that may not always align with logic, but still have a real impact on people’s lives.