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A major theme for the White House and Democrats in the next 12 months is going to be “inequality,” or the wealth and income gap between wealthy Americans and those who earn less. It will factor into debates about the minimum wage, tax policy, social welfare programs, and a host of other policy discussions.

Inequality, in its most basic sense, is virtually impossible to eliminate. In any functional society, there has been and will be people who have more than others, and people who earn more than others. And it is not a static phenomenon. People can earn $1 million one year and virtually nothing the next. And others can start from minimum wage jobs and become millionaires.

But the White House push is putting a spotlight on how the wage gap in the U.S. has changed over time and how it compares with the situation in other countries. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama vowed to focus his final three years in office on income inequality…. Read More »