The Top 1 Percent in International and Historical Perspective

The top 1 percent income share has more than doubled in the United States over the last 30 years, drawing much public attention in recent years. While other English-speaking countries have also experienced sharp increases in the top 1 percent income share, many high-income countries such as Japan, France, or Germany have seen much less increase in top income shares. Hence, the explanation cannot rely solely on forces common to advanced countries, such as the impact of new technologies and globalization on the supply and demand for skills. Moreover, the explanations have to accommodate the falls in top income shares earlier in the twentieth century experienced in virtually all high-income countries. We…

• JD
  John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• IF
  Institute for New Economic Thinking
• WC
  Washington Center for Equitable Growth
• EA
  Economic and Social Research Council

  Award: ES/I033114/1