Growing income inequality in Maryland

Our friends at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute have released a new report looking at the growth in income inequality between the top, middle, and bottom of the income spectrum. They've created a great infographic about how inequality in Maryland has widened in recent decades:

Click to enlarge

This prolonged growth in income inequality undermines the basic American belief that hard work should pay off. Continued growth in income inequality would harm our state’s future economy. Policies that narrow rather than widen income inequality will help Maryland recover from the downturn and grow our economy into the future. Policies such as:

• Promoting access to education and job training for tomorrow's labor market.
• Continued growth in investments in transit, childcare, and other programs that help workers connect with employers and keep jobs once they're hired.
• Other protections for low-wage worker incomes such as paid sick leave.

Growing income inequality is bad for Maryland and policymakers should pursue policies that narrow – not widen – income gaps.