Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Beautiful BC - where the rich get richer while the poor and middle class get poorer



Further to the Rev's post below on the growing income gap in the US, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has just published one for B.C.
As their graph above shows, the income gap here has widened to the point that the top 10% of B.C. families, whose incomes have increased dramatically, now earn more than the entire bottom half of families.

Between 1976 and 2006, the bottom 60% of families have also seen their incomes actually decrease during a time of unprecedented pre-recession economic growth in BC, leaving them poorer than their parents were 30 years ago.

BC fares badly when compared to the rest of Canada where stronger tax and transfer systems have helped compensate for a loss in earnings. The report recommends raising the minimum wage to $10.60, raising taxes for the wealthiest, expanding social services such as universal child care which will benefit everyone, and implementing a comprehensive poverty reduction plan.
Why do I suspect Gordo isn't writing all this down?
.
.

No comments: