CBO: Top 1% getting exponentially richer
Protestors participate in an Occupy Oakland rally Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo)
(CBS News)
The Occupy Wall Street movement has, for the most part, been formed around the idea that wealth distribution in America is unfair, and that the economic system is skewed to reward the already wealthy with the highest gains. A new report from the Congressional Budget Office appears to have confirmed that.
Specifically, it has confirmed that the rich really are getting richer.
Between 1979 and 2007, the top 1 percent of Americans with the highest incomes have seen their incomes grow by an average of 275 percent, according to the CBO study (PDF).
In comparison, the 60 percent of Americans in the middle of the income scale saw their incomes increase by just 40 percent during the same time period, according to the study, which was based on a combination of IRS and Census data.
(more at the link)
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-20125589/cbo-top-1-getting-exponentially-richer/