Brian Wakamo is an Inequality Research Analyst at the Institute for Policy Studies. He assists in maintaining and updating the Inequality.org fact section with the latest data on various forms of inequality, along with working with the American Postal Workers Union on countering privatization, and helping with general data visualization and social media for the Inequality.org team.

Prior to working at IPS, he was a Next Leader in the Global Economy project at IPS in the spring of 2018, and before that, he also interned at ONE DC, helping fight gentrification, and at Let America Vote, where he organized and gathered support for voting rights. He graduated from the American University in May 2018 with a BA in International Studies with a focus on global inequality and development. He is from Atlanta, Georgia.

Latest

Biden’s Debt Cancellation Plan Is a Step Forward on the Racial Wealth Divide

Black students have had to take out larger loans and faced greater difficulty paying them back than other borrowers.

The Huge Pay Gaps at Low-Wage Federal Contractors

New federal contracting standards could incentivize corporations to narrow the economic divides that undermine employee morale and business effectiveness.

With CEO Pay Skyrocketing, the Unionization Surge is Hardly Surprising

Pandemic disparities have driven workers at Starbucks and several other low-wage employers to demand a fair reward for their labor.

Executive Excess 2022

The CEOs at America’s largest low-wage employers are grabbing huge raises while workers and consumers struggle with rising costs.

An Equal Pay Victory for Our Winningest National Team

The landmark collective bargaining agreement for the United States Women’s National Team creates a blueprint for equity across global sports organizations.

Auto Workers, Climate Groups Team Up to Demand Union-Made, Electric Postal Vehicles

The United Auto Workers and climate groups join together to push the USPS to buy electric postal vehicles to replace their old, gas-guzzling fleet.

Why the Just-Passed Postal Service Reform Act is Such a Big Deal

The legislation gets rid of a manufactured financial burden that has threatened the ability of USPS to provide good jobs and universal service.

Can Global Sports Boycotts Help End the War in Ukraine?

The power of sports to legitimize a regime means they have the power to delegitimize one, too.

Student Debt Cancellation is a Racial Justice Issue

Presidential executive action to cancel up to $50,000 in student debts would increase Black wealth by 40 percent.

The Year in Inequality in 10 Charts

Our economic and racial divides grew even wider in 2021, but there are signs of hope for a more equitable future.

5 Charts on Taxing Wealth to Pay for the Build Back Better Agenda

Proposals in play to pay for the ambitious public investment plan could help reverse skyrocketing wealth inequality.

5 Charts on Tackling Bad Corporate Behavior Through Taxes

Proposals on the table to pay for the Build Back Better Act could rein in offshoring, excessive CEO pay, and wasteful stock buybacks.

Close the Carried Interest Loophole and End Private Equity Abuse

To help pay for vital public investments, Congress needs to end a tax loophole that has allowed greedy private equity execs to pay a lower tax rate than many middle-class Americans.

Taxpayers are Subsidizing Soaring CEO Pay at Pentagon Contractors

If Congress doesn’t crack down on military contractor pay, the White House should.

10 Charts on the State of U.S. Workers on the 2nd Pandemic Labor Day

While workers are continuing to struggle under COVID, corporate lobbyists are converging on Capitol Hill to block proposed pro-labor reforms.

11 Charts on Taxing the Wealthy and Corporations

Here’s everything you need to know about the urgency of fair tax reforms to pay for vital public investments and reverse extreme inequality.

Executive Excess 2021

Low-Wage Workers Lost Hours, Jobs, and Lives. Their Employers Bent the Rules — To Pump up CEO Paychecks.

House Dems Push Postal Banking Pilots as an Alternative to Predatory Firms

Thirty-three members have asked for federal budget funding to test out expanded postal financial services in 10 rural and urban communities.

As Rich Nations Protect Corporate Patents, the Global Vaccine Divide is Widening

People in high-income countries represent 16 percent of the world’s population, but have received 56 percent of COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Black Families Have a Major Stake in the Future of the Postal Service

USPS is a vital source of decent jobs for Black workers. It could also narrow the racial wealth divide by expanding financial services.