Canadian income gap widening faster than in US: Conference Board

Via The Tyee: Canadian income gap widening faster than in US: Conference Board. Excerpt:

Income inequality in Canada has been rising since the mid-1990s, the Conference Board of Canada says. And the gap is growing faster here than in the US. 

In a news release, the Conference Board's President and CEO Anne Golden said: 

"Canada had the fourth largest increase in income inequality among its peers. Even though the U.S. currently has the largest rich-poor income gap among these countries, the gap in Canada has been rising at a faster rate. 

"As we highlighted in our analysis of Canadian income inequality in July, high inequality both raises a moral question about fairness and can contribute to social tensions. In Canada, the gap between the rich and poor has widened over two decades, especially compared to our peer countries." 

The release noted that the "Gini index," a widely used measure of inequality grew in Canada from 0.293 in the mid-1990s to 0.320 in the late 2000s. A Gini index under 3 is an indicator of low income inequality. Meanwhile, the US Gini index rose from 0.361 to 0.378 in the same period.

Comments

[Ali]

Thanks Richard for providing so much ifnirmatoon about Canadian health care and costs, especially the comparisons with those in the U.S. I live in the U.S. but have relatives in Canada who speak favorably about the health care they receive. I cite their experience when someone rants about how awful health care must be in Canada and other countries with progressive health-care systems. These individuals usually have good jobs that provide health insurance, are against health-care reform in the U.S., have little concern for unemployed or uninsured people, and demand lower taxes. This week's Dean On Campus (DOC) will help me defend health care in Canada and reform efforts in the U.S. I appreciate your DOCs and hope many others will accept your invitation to debate or discuss the Canadian health-care system.