Strengthening Labor Rights Helps Reduce Economic Inequality, New Study Finds

Strengthening labor rights helps reduce economic inequality, new study finds

The findings suggest that when workers are free to advocate for higher wages and better benefits for themselves, it also benefits society as a whole.

Strengthening collective labor rights can help reduce economic inequality

Only about 1 in 10 U.S. workers belong to unions today. champc/iStock via Getty Images PlusDespite the strength of the U.S. economy, the gap between rich and poor Americans is increasing. The wealthiest 1% of Americans have more than five times as much wealth as the bottom 50%, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. That’s up from four times as much in the year 2000. In 2024 alone, the wealthiest 19 families got a total of US$1 trillion richer –…

Strengthening collective labor rights can help reduce economic inequality

by Skip Mark, University of Rhode Island and Stephen Bagwell, University of Missouri-St. Louis, [This article first appeared in The Conversation, republished with permission] Despite the strength of the U.S. economy, the gap between rich and poor Americans is increasing. The wealthiest 1% of Americans have more than five times as much wealth as the bottom 50%, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. That’s up from four times as much in the year 2…