A group of 10 people have the following annual incomes: $55,000, $30,000, $15,000, $20,000, $35,000, $80,000, $40,000, $45,000, $30,000, $50,000. Complete the table.   Income Quintile Share of Income $15,000 Bottom   $20,000 $30,000 2nd   $30,000 $35,000 3rd   $40,000 $45,000 4th   $50,000 $55,000 Top   $80,000 $4000 is taxed from the top earner and transferred to the lowest earner Would this transfer increase, decrease, or have no effect on income inequality in this group? Redistributing income from the highest earner to the lowest one would reduce the utility of the top earner and increase the utility of the lowest earner. But what would happen to overall utility in the economy? Would it increase, decrease, or remain the same? Explain your answer. (Hint: does the marginal utility of income diminish as one earns more?)

Principles of Economics 2e
2nd Edition
ISBN:9781947172364
Author:Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro
Publisher:Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro
Chapter15: Poverty And Economic Inequality
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 6SCQ: A group 0f 10 people have the following annual incomes:...
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A group of 10 people have the following annual incomes: $55,000, $30,000, $15,000, $20,000, $35,000, $80,000, $40,000, $45,000, $30,000, $50,000. Complete the table.

 

Income

Quintile

Share of Income

$15,000

Bottom

 

$20,000

$30,000

2nd

 

$30,000

$35,000

3rd

 

$40,000

$45,000

4th

 

$50,000

$55,000

Top

 

$80,000

$4000 is taxed from the top earner and transferred to the lowest earner

  1. Would this transfer increase, decrease, or have no effect on income inequality in this group?
  2. Redistributing income from the highest earner to the lowest one would reduce the utility of the top earner and increase the utility of the lowest earner. But what would happen to overall utility in the economy? Would it increase, decrease, or remain the same? Explain your answer. (Hint: does the marginal utility of income diminish as one earns more?)
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