A Century of Wealth in America
Understanding wealth in the United States—who has it, how they acquired it, and how they preserve it—is crucial to addressing the economic and political challenges facing the nation. But until now we have had little reliable information. Edward Wolff, one of the world’s great experts on the economics of wealth, offers an authoritative account of patterns in the accumulation and distribution of wealth since 1900.

A Century of Wealth in America demonstrates that the most remarkable change has been the growth of per capita household wealth, which climbed almost eightfold prior to the 2007 recession. But overlaid on this base rate are worrying trends. The share of personal wealth claimed by the richest one percent almost doubled between the mid-1970s and 2013, concurrent with a steep run-up of debt in the middle class. As the wealth of the average family dropped precipitously—by 44 percent—between 2007 and 2013, with black families hit hardest, the debt-income ratio more than doubled. The Great Recession also caused a sharp spike in asset poverty, as more and more families barely survived from one paycheck to the next. In short, the United States has changed from being one of the most economically equal of the advanced industrialized countries to being one of the most unequal.

At a time of deep uncertainty about the future, A Century of Wealth in America provides a sober bedrock of facts and astute analysis. It will become one of the few indispensable resources for contemporary public debate.

"1126067711"
A Century of Wealth in America
Understanding wealth in the United States—who has it, how they acquired it, and how they preserve it—is crucial to addressing the economic and political challenges facing the nation. But until now we have had little reliable information. Edward Wolff, one of the world’s great experts on the economics of wealth, offers an authoritative account of patterns in the accumulation and distribution of wealth since 1900.

A Century of Wealth in America demonstrates that the most remarkable change has been the growth of per capita household wealth, which climbed almost eightfold prior to the 2007 recession. But overlaid on this base rate are worrying trends. The share of personal wealth claimed by the richest one percent almost doubled between the mid-1970s and 2013, concurrent with a steep run-up of debt in the middle class. As the wealth of the average family dropped precipitously—by 44 percent—between 2007 and 2013, with black families hit hardest, the debt-income ratio more than doubled. The Great Recession also caused a sharp spike in asset poverty, as more and more families barely survived from one paycheck to the next. In short, the United States has changed from being one of the most economically equal of the advanced industrialized countries to being one of the most unequal.

At a time of deep uncertainty about the future, A Century of Wealth in America provides a sober bedrock of facts and astute analysis. It will become one of the few indispensable resources for contemporary public debate.

39.95 In Stock
A Century of Wealth in America

A Century of Wealth in America

by Edward N. Wolff
A Century of Wealth in America

A Century of Wealth in America

by Edward N. Wolff

Hardcover(New Edition)

$39.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

Understanding wealth in the United States—who has it, how they acquired it, and how they preserve it—is crucial to addressing the economic and political challenges facing the nation. But until now we have had little reliable information. Edward Wolff, one of the world’s great experts on the economics of wealth, offers an authoritative account of patterns in the accumulation and distribution of wealth since 1900.

A Century of Wealth in America demonstrates that the most remarkable change has been the growth of per capita household wealth, which climbed almost eightfold prior to the 2007 recession. But overlaid on this base rate are worrying trends. The share of personal wealth claimed by the richest one percent almost doubled between the mid-1970s and 2013, concurrent with a steep run-up of debt in the middle class. As the wealth of the average family dropped precipitously—by 44 percent—between 2007 and 2013, with black families hit hardest, the debt-income ratio more than doubled. The Great Recession also caused a sharp spike in asset poverty, as more and more families barely survived from one paycheck to the next. In short, the United States has changed from being one of the most economically equal of the advanced industrialized countries to being one of the most unequal.

At a time of deep uncertainty about the future, A Century of Wealth in America provides a sober bedrock of facts and astute analysis. It will become one of the few indispensable resources for contemporary public debate.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780674495142
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Publication date: 10/16/2017
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 888
Product dimensions: 6.40(w) x 9.40(h) x 2.50(d)

About the Author

Edward N. Wolff is Professor of Economics at New York University.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

I Recent Developments in Personal Wealth

1 Plan of the Book and Historical Backdrop 3

2 Trends in Household Wealth, 1962 to 2013 39

3 Changing Portfolio Composition and the Rate of Return on Household Wealth 86

4 International Comparisons of Household Wealth Inequality 139

II Mechanisms Behind Changing Wealth Inequality

5 Deconstructing Wealth Trends, 1983-2013 177

6 Age-Wealth Profiles and the Life Cycle Model: Implications for Wealth Accumulation 211

7 Inheritances and the Distribution of Wealth 262

8 The Role of Social Security and Private Pensions 311

III Who Are the Rich and the Poor?

9 Wealth Differences among Socioeconomic Groups 369

10 Who Are the Rich? A Demographic Profile of High-Income and High-Wealth Americans 436

11 The Persistence of Asset Poverty 492

IV Wealth over the Long Term

12 Long-Term Trends in Aggregate Household Wealth 553

13 Long-Term Trends in the Concentration of Household Wealth 589

V Tax Policy and Conclusion

14 Wealth Taxation 619

15 Summary of Principal Findings and Concluding Comments 650

Appendix 1 Adjustments and Imputations Made to the 1962 SFCC and 1983, 1989, 1992, and 1995 SCF Data Files 685

Appendix 2 Construction of the 1969 MESP Dataset 711

Appendix 3 Estimation of Retirement Wealth 731

Notes 747

References 815

Acknowledgments 837

Index 839

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews