US INCOME DISTRIBUTION
It's not surprising to know where we live predetermines our probability or chances to climb the income ladder and move to an upper quintile of income group. The unequal distribution of rights and privileges, socio-political power, financial services, infrastructures & basic services has generated a distressing level of income inequality among the different population clusters residing in various states.
People residing in metropolitan cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Columbus are more likely to stay in the lower income quintile compared to other privileged states and cities in Northeast, Great Plains and West regions of US. Stuck in the rut of daily life, the people living there have a hard time paying their rents and groceries even after working double shifts or part-time jobs. A short story; Ms. Calvin, a daycare worker, residing in Atlanta recently tried to rent an apartment closer to her job, in a better school district and a neighborhood close to grocery stores. The depressing part is; the landlord required more rent than her monthly income. These people residing in these regions have extremely low paying jobs and they have to face a constant stream of daily struggle due to their low-income level.
Moreover, these regions have concentrated poverty extensive traffic and weak public transit system which makes it even harder for the people in the lower income quintile group to get job opportunities and rise above their income level. Currently, the upward income mobility rate in these areas is extremely low. So, being trapped in this vicious circle, there are very little chances for the poor neighborhoods to rise up and diminish the income inequality and hence the slogan 'Rich gets Richer and poor gets poorer' continues on.
I believe this is the most important problem in the present, which economists and financial experts should dwell on, and come up with a solution as soon as possible. The impact generated by the income inequality is severe and it has affected people's lives across the whole US by depriving them of quality life and forcing them to lead stressful lives.
I think this article is an eye-opener for many people. The struggle the people are facing from their exhausting and straining lives in one part of the state is hardly realized by the privileged people from the other states. This article might make the leaders, the general people, and the economists come up with a quick resolution.
The major questions that we should be asking ourselves right now, if we want to rescue ourselves from this economic quicksand are:
