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Inequality in America: The Parallel World of the Hyper-rich

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For thirty years now, America's great engine of economic growth has funneled that growth predominantly to the pockets of the richest Americans.

Take for example the year 2004. After decades of soaring, the real income of the richest one percent of Americans rose again by 12.5 percent. The other ninety-nine percent of the population? Just 1.5 percent income growth.

Even the top five percent of Americans — richer than 19 out of 20 of us — saw only modest gains. The action is all at the tip-top, and what a top it is.

Hear about the jaw-dropping parallel world of America's hyper-rich — the homes, the toys, the opulence, and the political clout of the one percent.

Guests:

Nina Munk, author of "Fools Rush In: Steve Case, Jerry Levin, and the Unmaking of AOL Time Warner," contributing Editor at Vanity Fair, keen watcher of wealth

Larry Bean, Editor in Chief of The Robb Report

Jacob Hacker, Professor of Political Science at Yale, author of the forthcoming books "The Great Risk Shift" and "Inequality in American Politics."

This program aired on July 25, 2006.

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