Inequality by Design

This article highlights how the selection of certain policy choices have led to great degree of inequality in the United States. The underlying cause of such inequality the authors assert is income; the United States has the greatest income disparity among full time workers and this figure has been increasing since 1970.

The authors talk about visible and invisible policies. The government tries to minimize inequality through visible policies and reducing poverty through redistribution. Food stamps and public health programs attempt to help those living in poverty but such programs are the first to go when government needs to cut spending. Invisible policies such as regulating the market and subsidizing both the middle and upper class are used by the government to close the gap between the upper and middle class but widens the gap between those living in poverty and the upper/middle class. A way to close the gap between the rich and middle class are through tax deductions and programs to increase middle class home ownership. The authors then delve into the issue of tax cuts for the wealthy through the example of tax cuts during the Reagan administration. This proves how elites in political power protect their interests as well as those of the same social class thus perpetuating the cycle of inequality in the United States. It's unfortunate to know that those in positions of power who have the capability to change the widening gap between the rich and poor choose to help members of the wealthy class rich instead of enacting policies that provides a more equal distribution of wealth.