income inequality
Reference the chart in the previous post.
Much has been made of the rise of income inequality as measured by that GINI index. Most of the discussion seems to consider this a problem, and to blame the problem on wealthy capitalists. Rent seeking crony-capitalists always prosper at the big gov't trough.
But I am interested in knowing if anyone is aware of research or commentary that explores other factors that may have contributed to the rise of income inequality since 1968.
For example, our endless war on drugs incarcerates legions of (mostly) men who are (mostly) at the entry level of the economy. What effect does this have on GINI?
Divorce divides families economically and prevents wealth creation--how have divorce rates affected the GINI index since the 1960s?
Great Society programs, especially those that subsidized single motherhood.
HEW was elevated to cabinet status in the mid-1950s. What effect here?
While I suspect that all of the things i have mentioned have made income inequality worse, that is just a supposition. Any other takes on this?
WW