Persistent Inequality in the U.S.
regressive tax system and declining role of labor unions are key factors in the decline
A definitive explanation of the persistence of poverty in the U.S. Desmond cites the important role of the decline of labor unions. However, in the context of the current battles over budget priorities, he may not give sufficient weight to the limited role of taxation as a means of redistributing wealth to the poor. The fact that the Republicans cling to the disproved Laffer curve (or its latter-day versions) is a macro-factor that is outside the scope of this article.