Median per capita income was $18,700 in the United States in 2010 (which translates to about $75,000 for a family of four after taxes), up 20 percent since 1980 but virtually unchanged since 2000, after adjusting for inflation. The same measure, by comparison, rose about 20 percent in Britain between 2000 and 2010 and 14 percent in the Netherlands. Median income also rose 20 percent in Canada between 2000 and 2010, to the equivalent of $18,700. Other income surveys, conducted by government agencies, suggest that since 2010 pay in Canada has risen faster than pay in the United States and is now most likely higher. Pay in several European countries has also risen faster since 2010 than it has in the United States.
Per capita gross domestic product — continue to show that the United States has maintained its lead as the world’s richest large country. But those numbers are averages, which do not capture the distribution of income. With a big share of recent income gains in this country flowing to a relatively small slice of high-earning households, most Americans are not keeping pace with their counterparts around the world.
Three broad factors appear to be driving much of the weak income performance in the United States.
1) Educational attainment in the United States has risen far more slowly than in much of the industrialized world over the last three decades, making it harder for the American economy to maintain its share of highly skilled, well-paying jobs.
2) Companies distribute less money to the middle class and poor. More money goes to top executives.
3) Canada and Western Europe have more policies to redistribute more to the middle class and poor.
The top half of the USA is still wealthier.
Since all of the money/currency of these countries are fiat I dont really see how anything in this article is true except that
“3) Canada and Western Europe have more policies to redistribute more to the middle class and poor.”
aka socialism is alive and well in canada and western europe.
American middle class was what made this country great. Now take a look at it. Being run by a bunch of psychopathic control freaks. I mean to some of these people the world has become like a video game. Going after a guy whose family has been a rancher for 140 plus years. Harry Reid is such a crook. I mean all these politicians are crooks, but I would put ole Harry at the top of the list.
WHAT middle class.