Economic Links 2-14-11

A preview of some of the things we'll discuss in class in addition to some other interesting pictures and articles

-Some interesting trends in public opinion, including a chart showing the flip in perception of the economies when new presidents from a different party are elected

-Roughly 90% of Americans identify themselves as "middle class" . . . what should we actually consider middle class?

-Comparing the size of the various attempts to stimulate the economy since 2008 in a pie chart

-Comparing the size of this recession to every recession since the Great Depression in terms of jobs lost

-The top tax bracket over the course of the last 60 years

-Why the rich are harder to "stimulate" than the poor

-A chart of US household debt over the past decade

-A chart comparing the tax burden on a salary of $100,000 across various nations

-A group of economists are beginning to seriously consider whether greater income inequality leads to greater odds of a financial collapse