1 Chapter 12 Income Distribution, Poverty, and Discrimination Key Concepts Summary Practice Quiz Internet Exercises ©2002 South-Western College Publishing

2 What is the general trend of income distribution? Since 1970, the percentage of income received by families in the lowest 20% has fallen, while the percentage received by families in the 20% highest income groups have risen

3 Division of the Total Annual Money Income Among Families % of Families1980 Lowest 5th Second-lowest 5th 5.1% % % Middle 5th Second-highest 5th Highest 5th Highest 5%

4 What is median income? 50% of families earn less than the median income and 50% earn more

5 Median Income of Families, 1999 Characteristic All families Headed by a male Median Income $44,950 $37,396 $23,732 $43,309 $33,148 $42,995 Headed by a female With head aged With head aged 65 and over Headed by a high school grad Person with a bachelor’s degree $76,059

6 What are some arguments against income inequality? Wealthy can influence politics Wealthy have more opportunities Wealthy can afford better health care

7 What is an argument for income inequality? Income inequality gives people an incentive to become more productive

8 What is the Lorenz Curve? A graph of the actual cumulative distribution of income compared to a perfectly equal distribution of income

9 80% 60% 40% 20% 40%60%80% Hypothetical Lorenz Curve % of income % of families 100% Perfect Equality Actual Income 100%

10 80% 60% 40% 20% 40%60%80% Lorenz Curve 1929 & 1999 % of income % of families 100% Perfect Equality % 1999

11 80% 60% 40% 20% 40%60%80% Lorenz Curve for Nations % of income 100% Perfect Equality U.S. 100% Russia Brazil % of families

12 What is the poverty line? The level of income below which a person or a family is considered to be poor

13 Does the poverty line consider cash transfer income? Yes; Social Security, unemployment compensation, and Aid to Families of Dependent Children are considered

14 What are in-kind transfers? Government payments in the form of goods and services, rather than cash

15 Does the poverty line consider in-kind transfers? Receipts from government programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, and housing are not included

16 % of U.S. Persons below Poverty Level Characteristic Headed by married couple Headed by a male, no wife % 5% 12% 28% 23% 10% 2% Headed by a female, no husband No high school diploma High school diploma, no college Bachelor’s degree or more

17 What are examples of cash transfer programs? Social Security Unemployment Compensation Aid to Families with Dependent Children

18 What are examples of in-kind transfer programs? Food stamps Medicaid Housing Assistance

19 What are major criticisms of welfare? Work disincentives Inefficiencies Inequities

20 What are examples of reform proposals? Negative income tax Workfare

21 What is a negative income tax? A plan under which families below a certain break-even level of income would receive cash payments that decrease as their income increases

22 $5 0 $-5 $-20 $10$20$30$40 Family Income $50 Positive Tax Negative Tax $10 Negative Income Tax Tax Liability

23 What is workfare? Recipients of government programs have to work to receive the benefits

24 Can discrimination effect people’s wage rate? Certain groups can receive more or less income if there is discrimination in the labor market

25 How does comparable worth effect wages? Employees who work for the same employer must be paid the same wages when their jobs, even if different, require similar levels of education, etc.

26 Key Concepts

27 Key Concepts What is median income? What are some arguments against income inequality? What is an argument for income inequality? What is the Lorenz Curve? What is the poverty line? What are in-kind transfers? Does the poverty line consider in-kind transfers?

28 Key Concepts cont. What are examples of cash transfer programs? What are examples of in-kind transfer programs? What is a negative income tax? What is workfare? Can discrimination effect people’s wage rate? How does comparable worth effect wages?

29 Summary

30 The Lorenz curve is a measure of inequality of income. Since 1947, the share of money income for each fifth of families ranked according to their income has been stable.

31 80% 60% 40% 20% 40%60%80% Hypothetical Lorenz Curve % of income % of families 100% Perfect Equality Actual Income 100%

32 The poverty line is a level of cash income below which a family is classified as poor. The poverty income threshold is three times the cost of a minimal diet for a family.

33 In-kind transfers are payments to the poor in the form of goods and services, rather than cash. Calculation of the poverty line counts cash income. On the other hand, in-kind transfers, such as food stamps, Medicaid, and housing, do not count as income for families classified as officially poor.

34 Government cash transfers counted in the poverty line include payments from Social Security, unemployment compensation, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

35 Welfare criticisms include three major arguments: (1) Welfare reduces the incentive to work for the poor and taxpayers. (2) Welfare is inefficient because much of the money covers administrative costs, rather than providing benefits for the poor. (3) Because many antipoverty programs are controlled by the state, welfare benefits vary widely.

36 The negative income tax is a plan to set an income guarantee for all families. As a low-income family earns income, government payments (negative income tax) are phased out. After reaching a break-even income, families become taxpayers instead of being on the welfare rolls.

37 $5 0 $-5 $-20 $10$20$30$40 Family Income $50 Positive Tax Negative Tax $10 Negative Income Tax Tax Liability

38 Comparable worth is the theory that workers in jobs determined to be of equal value by means of point totals should be paid equally. Instead of allowing labor markets to set wages, independent consultants award points to different jobs on the basis of such criteria as knowledge, experience, and working conditions

39 END