Wealth Inequality: A Historical Perspective

In practical terms, this means that for millions of households, the path to building

intergenerational wealth through asset ownership has been effectively blocked. Their expenses rise,

their income stagnates, and their ability to get ahead, to move beyond where they started,

remains tragically out of reach. We see the devastating impact of this on the collective psyche.

Back in 2000, roughly 75% of Americans believed they had a good chance of improving their

standard of living. By 2010, that optimism had plummeted to 50%. Today,

a staggering 25%. That's a precipitous drop in just 25 years, reflecting a profound

sense of despair and economic stagnation. This profound shift has translated into an alarming statistic: