The stagnation of average earnings and rising income inequality in the United States since the 1970s has not only motivated economic research but has also informed discussions about political shifts among various demographics, as well as inspired policy debates about how to address this long-run phenomenon. This is especially true when it comes to the fate of male workers.

The United States has seen stagnation of average earnings and income inequality rise since the 1970s. The charts below help shed light on this issue using data from US Social Security Administration (SSA) records over 57 years.

Why do people in countries with less freedom decide to rebel? On the other side of the coin, why do some people seem to willingly live under repressive regimes for years, even generations? Further, what is the impact of even minimal contact with a more open style of government on regions that eventually succumb to authoritarian rule? These are not idle academic questions but are rather dynamic inquiries into nation-building that are playing out today.

US corporations go to great lengths to avoid paying taxes, and some of those avoidance schemes—like moving profits to offshore tax havens—regularly make headlines. However, there are many more subtle techniques to reduce a corporation’s tax bill, and those methods are often practiced by tax accountants with firm- or industry-specific skills. Employing these tax experts can have beneficial effects and provide competitive advantages for firms.