Inequality and the Common Good
The Program on Inequality and the Common Good focuses on the dangers that growing inequality pose for U.S. democracy, economic health and civic life.
The program runs the following projects: Inequality.org, Too Much, Resilience Circles, Class Action, The Other98%, Wealth for the Common Good, Jamaica Plain Forum, and the Jamaica Plain New Economy Transition.
Sign up here for Too Much, our weekly newsletter on inequality and excess:
The Case for Increasing Taxes on the Wealthy
It is clear that the U.S. needs to reduce government expenditures in a responsible way. But if our lens is entirely focused on the expenditure side of the equation, we're going to miss a huge part of the solution.
IPS expert Chuck Collins discusses an economic and moral rationale for increasing taxes on the wealthy at TEDx.
Recent Work
Commentary
A Primer for Taming Corporate Power
May 15, 2013 - For social change, slow and steady may win the race. By Sam Pizzigati
Column
Austerity Will Leave Us Crying '96 Tears'
May 1, 2013 - But America's wealthy don't seem to mind. By Sam Pizzigati
Column
The Art of Inequality
April 17, 2013 - Monumental gifts to museums are coinciding with the erosion of arts programs at the nation's public schools. By Sam Pizzigati, published in The Providence Journal
Column
Shouldn't We Base Our Tax Policy on More than Hunches?
April 10, 2013 - The latest economic evidence supports raising taxes on the richest Americans. By Sam Pizzigati
Column
A Wall Street Powerhouse Attorney Talks Sense
April 3, 2013 - Taxes can do more than simply raise revenue. By Sam Pizzigati
Op-Ed
Transplanting Taxes from Corporations to the Rest of Us
April 3, 2013 - American taxpayers are increasingly picking up the tab for unpaid corporate taxes. By Scott Klinger
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State of the Dream 2008
- Released January 15, 2008
By Brenda Cotto-Escalera, Anisha Desai, Jeannette Huezo, Dedrick Muhammad, Amaad RiveraTo commemorate the 79th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the Institute for Policy Studies and United For A Fair Economy co-sponsored a forum on the new report The State of the Dream: 2008 . This report focuses on the historic racial wealth divide, what progress has been made in bridging this divide since the death of Dr. King, and the impact of our contemporary subprime housing crisis on this divide.
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99 to 1: How Wealth Inequality Is Wrecking the World and What We Can Do About It
- Published April 15, 2012
- 168
- ISBN 1609945921
By Chuck Collins
Chuck Collins' new book provides revealing and powerful information about inequality in all realms of today’s world, including individual wealth and power, corporate wealth and power, media control, political influence, and other areas.
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Mandate for Change: Policies and Leadership for 2009 and Beyond
- Published January 28, 2009
- ISBN 978-0-7391-3167-1
By Chester Hartman
Three decades ago, conservative ideologues at The Heritage Foundation produced a primer on the Reagan Revolution entitled Mandate for Leadership, which offered an overarching philosophy against the role of government and in favor of markets.
Today, IPS has taken on the same task for the Obama administration. Mandate for Change is aimed at strengthening the new administration at a time when the need for progressive policies — and appointing progressive people to lead such efforts—is most urgent.
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The Economic Meltdown Funnies
- Published December 15, 2008
By Chuck Collins and Nick Thorkelson
The “Economic Meltdown Funnies” are a co-production of Jobs with Justice and the Institute for Policy Studies' Program on Inequality and the Common Good. Authors Chuck Collins and Nick Thorkelson provide a humorous, easy-to-follow guide to the many factors that led to the current financial crisis.
- November 2, 2012
CityWatch features article “The Dead-End Servant Economy”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article - November 2, 2012
The (Prestonsburg, KY) Floyd County Times features article “The Dead-End Servant Economy”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article - November 2, 2012
CityWatch features article “The Dead-End Servant Economy”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article - October 31, 2012
ConsortiumNews.com features report “Unnecessary Austerity, Unnecessary Shutdown”
Visit the publisher's website • See the reportBut, is there anyone left in the English-speaking world who isn’t aware of corporations’ and Wall Street’s culpability in the current fiscal crisis?
Quick, who appears to be one of those market true-believers, does not provide empirical (nor any other) support for her characterization of Krugman’s views as “just laughable” and “downright dangerous.” The “support” on which Quick apparently depends is the position of 44 CEOs from Fortune 500 companies who slavishly embrace Hooverville mentality and are now advocating the Simpson-Bowles plan.
Quick does not mention that the many Fortune 500 companies have been contributing significantly to the deficit by not paying adequate taxes — in fact, some companies have been paying “zero” taxes. If corporations and the rich paid taxes at the same level as in the 1960s, the debt would disappear in a decade,” according to a study by the Institute for Policy Studies.
- October 30, 2012
The (Price, UT) Sun Advocate features article “Where's Joe the Plumber When You Need Him?”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article - October 27, 2012
ConsortiumNews.com features report “Unnecessary Austerity, Unnecessary Shutdown”
Visit the publisher's website • See the reportBut, is there anyone left in the English-speaking world who isn’t aware of corporations’ and Wall Street’s culpability in the current fiscal crisis?
Quick, who appears to be one of those market true-believers, does not provide empirical (nor any other) support for her characterization of Krugman’s views as “just laughable” and “downright dangerous.” The “support” on which Quick apparently depends is the position of 44 CEOs from Fortune 500 companies who slavishly embrace Hooverville mentality and are now advocating the Simpson-Bowles plan.
Quick does not mention that the many Fortune 500 companies have been contributing significantly to the deficit by not paying adequate taxes — in fact, some companies have been paying “zero” taxes. If corporations and the rich paid taxes at the same level as in the 1960s, the debt would disappear in a decade,” according to a study by the Institute for Policy Studies.
- October 27, 2012
San Diego Free Press features article “ 10 Filthy-Rich, Tax-Dodging Hypocrites Pushing Disastrous Austerity on America”
Visit the publisher's website • See the articleFix the Debt claims their agenda is not just about spending cuts. But when it comes to their tax proposals, they use the slippery term “pro-growth reform” to push for cuts in deductions that are likely to include credits for working families and — you guessed it — more corporate tax breaks. Chief among these is a proposal to switch to a territorial system under which corporate foreign earnings would be permanently exempted (instead of being taxed when they are returned to America).
This idea, also supported by the Bowles-Simpson deficit commission, would make it even more profitable for big corporations to use accounting tricks to disguise U.S. profits as income earned in tax havens. Citizens for Tax Justice estimates that such tax haven abuse will cost the Treasury more than $1 trillion over the next decade.
So who are the CEOs who are telling the rest of us to be responsible and tighten our belts after they’ve spent decades stiffing the U.S. Treasury? Of the 80 members of Fix the Debt’s CEO Fiscal Leadership Council, here are 10 that stand out as the biggest hypocrites:
- October 27, 2012
Salon.com features article “ 10 Filthy-Rich, Tax-Dodging Hypocrites Pushing Disastrous Austerity on America”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article - October 26, 2012
AlterNet features article “ 10 Filthy-Rich, Tax-Dodging Hypocrites Pushing Disastrous Austerity on America”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article“Fix the Debt” is a coalition of more than 80 CEOs who claim they know best how to deal with our nation’s fiscal challenges.
These are guys who’ve mastered every tax-dodging trick in the book. And now that they’ve boosted their corporate profits by draining the public treasury, how do they propose we put our fiscal house back in order? By squeezing programs for the poor and elderly, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
This idea, also supported by the Bowles-Simpson deficit commission, would make it even more profitable for big corporations to use accounting tricks to disguise U.S. profits as income earned in tax havens. Citizens for Tax Justice estimates that such tax haven abuse will cost the Treasury more than $1 trillion over the next decade.
- October 26, 2012
24/7 wall street features report “Inequality Report Card: Grading Congress on Inequality”
Visit the publisher's website • See the reportThe Great Recession has brought the disparity between the rich and the poor to the forefront of the news. The Occupy Wall Street movement and terms such as the 99% and 1% further highlight the attention about the subject.
Read more: States with the Widest Gap Between the Rich and Poor - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/10/26/states-with-the-widest-gap-between-the-rich-and-poor/#ixzz2AR0FacpeAdditionally, we looked at the Institute for Policy Studies’ Inequality Report Card, which provided grades to senators and congressmen based on their voting record related to income inequality.
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Project Staff
Sarah Byrnes
Chuck Collins
Carlos Espinoza-Toro-
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Associate Fellows
Salvatore Babones
Sam PizzigatiSign up here for Too Much, our weekly newsletter on inequality and excess:
The following are all projects of Inequality and the Common Good:
Inequality.org
This new inequality.org site aims to be your portal into all things online related to the income and wealth gaps that so divide us, in the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.Inequality.org
Too Much
Each and every week, Too Much explores excess and inequality, in the United States and throughout the world. We cover a wide swatch of territory, everything from the latest executive pay outrage to the most current research insights on how staggering income and wealth divides are impacting our health and our happiness. Visit www.TooMuchOnline.org
Common Security Clubs
These are uncertain times. The Great Recession has reminded us of our vulnerabilities: debt, foreclosure, unemployment, job insecurity, evaporating savings, and rising costs. Common Security Clubs are a safe place where neighbors come together to increase their personal security in a rapidly changing world. Visit www.CommonSecurityClub.org
Class Action and www.classism.org
Class Action is a project based at the Program on Inequality and the Common Good. We provide a dynamic framework and analysis, as well as safe space, for people from across the class spectrum to explore class and to identify and begin to dismantle classism. We accomplish this through trainings, workshops, organizational consulting, resources, public awareness, and our blog, Classism Exposed. Visit www.Classism.org
The Other 98%
The Other 98% is a grassroots network of concerned citizens fed up with the status quo in Washington. We seek practical solutions to the many challenges facing America. We stand against the bankers, CEOs and lobbyists who have hijacked our democracy to serve themselves at the expense of everyone else. Visit www.Other98.com
Wealth for the Common Good
Wealth for the Common Good is a network of business leaders, high-income households and partners working together to promote shared prosperity and fair taxation. Our membership includes entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, school teachers, engineers and elected officials of all backgrounds, political stripes and from all over the country. Visit www.WealthForCommonGood.org
Jamaica Plain Forum
Jamaica Plain Forum is a free, public series of discussions, lectures, workshops, films, and events addressing current topics of interest to the Jamaica Plain community, a neighborhood in Boston where our IPS New England office is based. Visit www.JamaicaPlainForum.org
Jamaica Plain New Economy Transition
The Jamaica Plain New Economy Transition (JPNET) brings together neighbors to address the ongoing challenges of a hurting economy, climate change, and the rising costs of healthcare, food, and energy, and prepare for a transition to a new economy. We are part of Transition U.S. Visit www.jptransition.org