U.S. Income Inequality in Perspective

The latest Economics in Person segments are feature-length videos addressing U.S. income inequality during the April 2012 live filming of the economics seminar at the 2012 Conference of Twelfth District Directors in Los Angeles, California.

The Evolution of Top Incomes in the United States
Posted June 28, 2012

Economist Bradley Heim discusses trends in the top 10%, 5%, and 1% of U.S. income earners, how the U.S. income distribution compares to other countries, and possible explanations for shifting trends (video, 31:05).

Rising U.S. Wage Inequality: Whither the Middle Class
Posted June 28, 2012

FRBSF Economist Robert Valletta discusses the growing gap between low and high earners across the entire U.S. wage distribution and addresses its implications on the American middle class (video, 27:01).

Economic Mobility in the United States
Posted June 28, 2012

FRBSF Economist Mary C. Daly discusses the extent to which individuals and families in the U.S. achieve upward economic and social mobility, focusing on comparisons over time and to other countries (video, 28:54).

U.S. Labor Market Issues and the Great Recession

Economics in Person begins with a three-part feature of economist Mary C. Daly discussing U.S. labor market issues and the Great Recession.

The Great Recession: Part One
Posted February 15, 2012

The first installment introduces the legacy of the Great Recession and its large toll on jobs (video, 4:48).

The Great Recession: Part Two
Posted March 8, 2012

The road to recovery has been slow, given sluggish hiring activity despite a decline in layoffs (video, 4:28).

U.S. Labor Markets: Longer-term Perspective
Posted April 30, 2012

A discussion on aging baby boomers and declining labor force participation concludes the three-part feature (video, 4:15).