Describe the scale of redistribution in the United States. ...

[Mr. Wonderful]

Describe the scale of redistribution in the United States.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How do governments in the United States redistribute income?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Toya9913]

Answer to Question 1

In the United States, income redistribution increases the share of total income received by the lowest 60 percent of households and decreases the share of total income received by the highest 40 percent of households. Specifically, the poorest 20 percent of households receive only 0.9 percent of total market income earned in the United States, but receive 4.6 percent of income after taxes and benefits. The richest 20 percent of households receive 55.6 percent of total market income earned in the United States, but receive only 46.7 percent of income after taxes and benefits.

Answer to Question 2

The governments in the U.S. use three main ways to redistribute income and reduce, to some degree, economic inequality: i) Income taxes: Taxes on household income are charged by the U.S. federal government and by many state governments,; ii) Income maintenance programs: There are three major types of programs that provide direct payments to individuals; and iii) Subsidized services: A great deal of income redistribution takes the form of subsidized services, where people other than those who pay for services consume the services provided.