The Trend in Family Income from 1979 to 2010 (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (39 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
Feb. 8, 2012 |
| Report Number |
R42348 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Gerald Mayer, Analyst in Labor Policy |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
This report analyzes the trends in the level and distribution of family income from 1979 to 2010.The beginning year of 1979 was chosen because the U.S. economy was at the peak of aneconomic expansion. Other peaks occurred in 1989, 2000, and 2007. The most recent data forfamily income are for 2010.A recession officially began in the United States in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. Inaddition to a loss of jobs, a recession typically affects both hourly earnings and hours worked.Therefore, this report examines the total number of hours families work outside the home andhow much they earn per hour worked. The report separates the relative effects on family earningsof changes in hourly earnings and hours worked.Finally, the report examines changes in family income, hourly earnings, and hours worked overthree economic expansions before the recent recession: 1979-1989, 1989-2000, and 2000-2007.The report also examines the period during and after the 2007-2009 recession. Earningsinequality has increased in recent decades and, in recent years, the total number of hours workedby families outside of the home has fallen. It may be difficult to separate the effects of theselonger-term trends from the shorter-term effects of the business cycle.
