Program on Inequality and the Common Good
Extreme inequalities of income, wealth and opportunity undercut democracy, social solidarity and mobility, economic stability, and many other aspects of our personal and public lives. The Program on Inequality and the Common Good focuses on these and other dangers that income disparities pose for the U.S.
Through research and reporting, this program encourages policy interventions that can reduce extreme wealth inequality, and close the growing gap between the rich and poor. Recent reports have examined the estate tax, the racial wealth gap, inequality in philanthropy, and other topics related to extreme wealth concentration. The central theme of the program is that without significant reform and a systemic view of inequality on both a national and global level, the overall wealth divide will continue to grow exponentially.
Latest Work
Reparations Are Expensive — but Not Repairing the Harm Costs More
The racial wealth divide between Black and White Americans is much bigger — and more stubborn — than many of us realize. The median African-American household has just 6 percent of […]
It’s Time We Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share
Dismantling the IRS, whether by cutting its funding or abolishing it outright, is a gift to the ultra-wealthy for whom U.S. taxes are already becoming voluntary.
Report: “Extreme Wealth: The growing number of people with extreme wealth and what an annual wealth tax could raise”
An annual wealth tax on the world’s richest could raise $1.7 trillion globally.
Dynasty-Building Trusts: How the Getty and Walton Families Use Trusts To Dodge Taxes
The more we learn from courageous whistleblowers like Marlena Sonn, the more outrage and pressure will build to reform trust law and eliminate the games that the Waltons and the Gettys are playing.
Lawmakers, Fix Trust Law and Close Down the Billionaire Enabler States.
The world’s wealthy already operate by a different set of rules and laws. But allowing the full scale carveout and manipulation of U.S. state trust law to serve their interests should not be one of them.
Donor-Advised Fund Numbers Still Obscure Who’s Giving and How Much
Publishers of donor-advised fund data are including hundreds of thousands of workplace giving accounts in their averages. That skews the picture.
For Lula, Fighting Against Fascism and For Economic Justice is Nothing New
Having fought for labor rights under a dictatorship, the Brazilian president once again faces a violent far-right movement bent on blocking his pro-worker, pro-democracy agenda.
A Big Year for the Charity Reform Movement
Our 2022 findings, publications, conversations, and political prospects made it clearer than ever that we need meaningful charity reform – and that a strong majority agrees.
How Colombia Will Tax the Wealthy
President Gustavo Petro’s government plans to raise $20 trillion Colombian pesos through a hyper-targeted tax on less than one percent of the country’s top earners. Other nations should take notice.
We should be skeptical of billionaires who pledge to share their wealth
Billionaires may claim huge tax deductions for moving money into foundations or donor-advised funds with little to no guarantee that money will ever make it to working charities.
‘Tis Always the Season for Billionaire Philanthropy
Americans are their most charitable at year’s end. But even on Giving Tuesday, billionaire donors crowd out the impact of small-dollar gifts.
Inequality-Fighting Ballot Initiatives Win Big
Voters approved proposals to tax the rich, build worker power, and make housing and education more affordable.
Do the Forbes Philanthropy Scores Give Foundation Donors Too Much Credit?
The giving estimates behind the scores include some outlays from private foundations that shouldn’t actually count as charitable giving.
What's driving the gap between the richest and poorest Americans
Yahoo Finance quoted Sarah Anderson on CEO pay and Chuck Collins on billionaire wealth and cited IPS findings as part of examining income inequality.
These US states are billionaire tax havens (The Marc Steiner Show)
Marc Steiner spoke with Chuck Collins and Kalena Thomhave about their new IPS report on the 13 US states that the worst enablers of billionaire wealth hiding.
The High Cost of Beacon Hill Inaction
IPS Report Documents Missing Millions as Massachusetts State Legislature Fails to Act on Boston’s Luxury Transfer Tax
Dismantling the Lucky Sperm Club, One Baby Bond Program at a Time
Cities and states are experimenting with trust fund accounts to narrow the racial wealth divide.
Congress Takes Historic Step to Tax Stock Buybacks
This provision of the Inflation Reduction Act will discourage corporations from siphoning resources from worker wages and productive investments for share repurchases that inflate CEO pay.
A Proposed Wealth Tax on Colombia’s 4,700+ Richest Would Raise $1 Billion
An Institute for Policy Studies analysis of the progressive tax proposed by incoming Colombian President Gustavo Petro would impact a small percentage of the nation's wealthiest while raising millions to address widening inequality.
The Rise of the Monster DAFs
Rising like monsters from the deep, donor-advised funds (DAFs) have finally caught up with foundations as the wealthy donor’s charitable warehousing vehicle of choice — and are poised to eclipse them.
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