2160 Wealth Distribution

The chart is missing from this on-line article in USA Today about the distribution of wealth in the United States, but it looked an awful lot like the intelligence bell curve lying on its side, except it's a bit lop sided for greater wealth than lesser wealth. I don't think the intelligence curve does that.

The mid-range of assets is 22% of the population falls between $25,000-$100,000. 31% is below that and 47% is above. 6.9% are at the bottom, and 7% are at the top. I'd say it looks pretty good, and I don't know why there are people who think it should be leveled or how that would help the poor.

"Financial assets — savings, checking or retirement accounts, stocks and bonds — and non-financial assets — a car, home or business — can spell the difference between security and drift. Assets mean access to college education, the ability to open a business, buy a house, have a secure retirement and a hedge against job loss."

The push is for Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), offering a one-to-one, two-to-one or better match for every dollar saved. It's the program I mentioned a few weeks ago written up in the WSJ where some women found money to save toward homes and businesses (matched by gov't funds) by giving up their cable, cell phones and manicures.

Wealth distribution
Financial assets