Inequality in US
General Questions
Global Inequality
10

True or False: There is income inequality in the US

True! 

In 2022, people in the top of income distribution were earning "12.63" times more than those at the bottom of the distribution

10

True or False: Income inequality is defined as the difference in how income is distributed among the population

True!

Income inequality happens when one percentage of the population makes a larger amount of income than another part

10

True or False: All countries with higher average incomes have no poverty

False

Statistica shows that developed countries such as Australia and Italy had poverty rates around 12% in 2022.

20

True or False: Black and Hispanic families are less susceptible to the effects of income inequality

False

Because of the United States historical preferences against minorities, it is often harder for African Americans and Hispanic people to acquire housing, accumulate wealth, and earn higher education

20

True or False: Tax policies and government spending play no significant role in reducing income inequality

False

The Peterson Institute states, "Governments can reduce inequality through tax relief and income support or transfers (government programs like welfare, free health care, and food stamps), among other types of policies."

20

True or False: Income inequality can affect access to healthcare and education

True

The Penn Foster Partners state that those who are in lower income status often do not pursue higher education as often, with "only about 51% of lower-income students enroll in college compared to 89% of students from well-off families." In addition, those in a lower income status often report having trouble receiving health care or did not receive it in the first place.

30

What is the percentage of all the wealth in the United States that is held by the rich? Is it closest to

A. 0%

B. 50%

C. 100%

B. 50%

The top 20% of the US holds around 70% of the country's total wealth. According to USA facts, that is around $97 trillion dollars held by the richest people of the United States.

30

Income inequality is caused by

A. Globalization

B. How governments tax

C. Advancements in technology

D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Because businesses try to use other countries to lower their costs of labor, many domestic workers often suffer and there is a job loss. 

With high taxes from government, people are unable to pay and often get stuck deeper in their inequality.

Because of advancements in technology, jobs are opened up and people are able to earn a livable income.

30

True or False: The global initiative that aims to reduce inequality and end poverty by 2030 are the United Nations Global Development Goals

False

The United Nations goals are called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the many aims of the United Nations by 2030 is to reduce inequality and end poverty

40

In the rank of developed nations, where does the United States place in terms of countries with apparent income inequality?

A. 1st

B. 2nd

C. 6th

D. 20th

B. 2nd

According to the Pew Research Center, the United States had around a 0.4 Gini Coefficient. The Gini Coefficient measures inequality in a country, with 0 being completely equal and 1 being absolute inequality. 

40

Has income inequality within advanced countries risen in the past 20 years? (Yes or No)

Yes

The Brookings Institute states that since 1990, the most advanced economies like the US, China, India, Russia, etc. have seen a rise in inequality within the population

40

What country has the lowest income inequality, as of 2024, when measured by the Gini Coefficient?

A. The United States

B. South Africa

C. Norway

D. Switzerland

C. Norway

The World Population Review states that Norway has a Gini Coefficient, which measures the level of income inequality within a population, as 22.7, which is the lowest country in the world.

50

How many states in the US had an income inequality level below than 0.455 on the Gini Index Scale in 2023? (This measures income inequality and is on a scale of 0-1 [0 is absolutely equal and 1 is absolutely inequality]) 

11 (can be in the range from 8-14)

According to a 2023 survey taken by ACS, 11 states had Gini Coefficients that was less than 0.455. Some of these states included Idaho, Wyoming, Minnesota, etc. These states have the most equal distributions of income between citizens.

50

While it is known that reducing poverty helps to increase economic growth, is it more or less or as effective to reduce income inequality to grow the economy?

Reducing income inequality is AS effective as reducing poverty to help strengthen the economy


A 2020 study by the World Bank shows that "lowering the Gini Coefficient by one percent is more effective than increasing a country’s gross domestic product by one percent."

50

What country has the highest income inequality, as of 2024, when measured by the Gini Coefficient?

A. Brazil

B. South Africa

C. Zimbabwe

D. Uganda

B. South Africa

According to the World Factbook, South Africa has an income inequality of 63/100, the highest in the world.