One reason that people believe taxes should have vertical equity is that there are wide differences between incomes in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of the Census keeps data about income distribution.
You will be taking a virtual field trip to the U.S. Census Bureau to learn more about income distribution. When you return, you will answer questions about your findings.
To start your field trip, visit U.S. Census Bureau Historical Income Tables and look for the table that shows Mean Household Income Received by Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent (All Races). Then, read the questions below. Click on the letter of the response that most closely answers each question. To assess your answers, click the Check My Answers button at the bottom of the page.
- What was the mean household income of the lowest fifth of the population in
2010?
- What was the mean income of the top 5 percent of households in 2010?
- What was the mean income of the lowest fifth of the population in
2009?
- What was the difference in the mean income of the lowest fifth of
the population for 2010 and 2009?
- What was the mean income received by the top 5 percent of households
in 2009?
- What was the difference in the mean income of the top 5% of households
in 2010 and 2009?
