Hi flaco,
Although I do not have the capability to create a graph for you, I can provide
you with the information you're seeking and give you links to graphs.
Here is a summary of the statistics for the distribution of wealth in the US as
of 1998, the most recent information available that has been fully analyzed:
% of US Population % of Wealth Owned
==========================================================
Top 1% 38.1%
Top 96-99% 21.3%
Top 90-95% 11.5%
Top 80-89% 12.5%
Top 60-79% 11.9%
General 40-59% 4.5%
Bottom 40% 0.2%
You can find this illustrated in a graph at United for a Fair Economy (UFE):
http://www.ufenet.org/research/wealth_charts.html
You can also find additional graphs and charts on US income trends at the UFE
site:
http://www.ufenet.org/research/income_charts.html
These figures are based on research by New York University Economics Professor
Edward N. Wolff. In his April 2000 working paper titled "Recent Trends in
Wealth Ownership, 1983-1998", Wolff used statistics from the Surveys of
Consumer Finances to address several issues surrounding the concentration of
wealth in America.
Working Paper No. 300
http://www.levy.org/docs/wrkpap/papers/300.html
According to Wolff's figures, about 70 percent of the wealth in the US is in
the hands of 10 percent of population. He also notes that the disparity
between the distribution of wealth rose from 1989 to 1998, although the pace of
the inequity was slower in the 1990s.
In addition to the Surveys of Consumer Finances, there are two other major
sources of data on American wealth:
The U.S. Bureau of the Census Survey of Income and Program Participation
(SIPP):
http://www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/pubsmain.htm
The Institute for Social Research's Panel Survey of Income Dynamics (PSID):
http://stat0.isr.umich.edu/psid/data-center/dcmain.html
The data and methodology for each of these sources varies. As a result, the
distribution statistics produced by each of these sources may also vary.
For the purposes of his analysis, Wolff defined wealth as "marketable wealth"
or "net worth," meaning the current value of all marketable assets (real
estate, cash, savings, bonds, stocks, pension plans, trust funds, etc.) minus
the current value of debts. He excluded durable goods like automobiles and
house wares and social security benefits from his definition of marketable
assets.
While researching your question I found other graphs that detail the
disparities in income. It's important to remember that although wealth and
income are strongly correlated, they are different. More factors are taken into
consideration when calculating wealth and as a result, it is probably a more
accurate indicator of how money is distributed in the US.
Here are some additional resources on wealth and income:
US Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/dusd/MAB/wp233.pdf
1999 report on the wealth of US families
US Census Bureau -- Census 2000
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsTable?
_lang=en&_vt_name=DEC_1990_STF3_DP4&_geo_id=01000US
Detailed table on income and poverty statistics
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/sf2.html
Additional statistics on households and families arranged by state
Understanding the US Distribution of Wealth
http://minneapolisfed.org/research/qr/qr2122.pdf
Comprehensive report based on 1997 data
Century Foundation
http://www.policyideas.org/Issues/Social_Economic/Household_Wealth.pdf
Graphs and analysis based on 1998 US Census data
Review of Income and Wealth
http://www.iariw.org/articlelinks.htm
Survey of Consumer Finances
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu:8080/ABSTRACTS/03155.xml?format=ICPSR
http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/oss/oss2/2001/scf2001.information.html
Comprehensive survey on consumer income, assets, debt, and major transactions
Unequal Income Distribution in the United States
http://home.rochester.rr.com/jerryfisher/income.htm
This is based on 1995 and 1996 data. Scroll down to the bottom for information
on distribution by country
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
http://www.cbpp.org/2-26-01tax.htm
IRS data on after-tax income trends
The L-Curve By David Chandler
http://www.davidchandler.com/lcurve/
Based on 1997 data income. Includes easy-to-understand graphs on income
distribution
Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences
http://datadump.icaap.org/cgi-bin/glossary/SocialDict/SocialDict?term=LORENZ%
20CURVE
A definition of the L-Curve
Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences
http://datadump.icaap.org/cgi-bin/glossary/SocialDict/SocialDict?term=GINI%
20COEFFICIENT
A definition of the Gini Coefficient
If you are looking for a geographical breakdown of the distribution of wealth
in the US, here are some additional links:
US Census Bureau
http://landview.census.gov/prod/1/pop/p60-189.pdf
An analysis of income, poverty and benefits based on results from the 1990
census
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
http://www.epinet.org/studies/pullingapart/1-18-00sfp.pdf
A January 2000 state-by-state analysis of income trends. Based on data from
1978 to 1988
Forbes.com
http://www.forbes.com/2001/06/22/2001maps.html
Search for the world's richest people and click on the map for more information
I used the following search terms on Google:
distribution of wealth in us
wealth and distribution and us
distribution of wealth and us and 1998 and stat or statistic or statistics
gini coefficient
Hope this helps,
Katwoman |