5 ms·

> Which makes it fixed in real terms. So where is the problem? Inflation adjusted income has barely increased at all for anyone but the top 20% of earners sinc

• dragonwriter 10y ago
  > So where is the problem? Whether or not its a "problem", that is an explanation of why it is an accurate description of the scenario faced by the group in question, and a useful label. > Inflation adjusted income has barely increased at all for anyone but the top 20% of earners since the mid-1960s Its barely increased for the averages of segments of the income distribution. That doesn't mean individuals don't see income growth over time (and even move between, e.g., income quintiles), it just means that (except in the top ranges) the overall distribution isn't moving up. That's an important issue, to be sure, but its a different issue that individuals on fixed incomes and the impacts specific policies, etc., may have on the, distinct from the rest of the population which makes it useful to identify and discuss them as a group with a label.