9 And while it is true that those at the upper end of the income distribution were disproportionately affected during the financial crisis, with the result that inequality actually fell a bit in the wake of the recession, high earners also appear to be benefiting disproportionately from the recovery. Thus, the crisis does not seem really to have changed the trajectory of inequality.
As interesting as these statistics on inequality are, they obscure a key part of the story – one that has been an important part of our identity as Americans: whether a family has the ability, through hard work, to attain a better standard of living.