Thoughtful piece but I think more wrong the right:
- It is true the the USA has increased income in-equality making the rich richer. BUT
- It is NOT true that the middle class is better of in the EU instead of the USA. not true generally.
- It is NOT true the post regan policies have harmed more than helped median incomes relative to EU.
This first PEW chart shows present median income in the EU vs. the USA. You can see the median person is notably better off here than there.
The second Atlantic chart shows the stark raise in the 1% in America, but it also shows that the median income has modestly, but steadily grown as a percent of society too. while in the EU the bottom half has slid backwards.
So the data does not really support your story. You could say the USA could have done more for its middle class. that would be a fair claim, but saying that you are better off... not so. Regan policies also grew the total GDP of the USA and that also has benefit on the bottom half. That is the part of the equation you are missing in my estimation.
Very thought provoking article... made me do some research! thx!
https://christiankull.net/2020/06/08/statistics-to-open-your-eyes-income-inequality-us-vs-europe/
