The statistics about wealth inequality in the US from page 29 really stood out to me. The top 1% owns around 50% of the country’s wealth, which shows how uneven wealth is spread out. I find it pretty surprising that such a small part of the population controls such a large amount of wealth, while most people have much less. Wealth can also be passed down from one generation to another, which can make it easier for rich families to stay wealthy over time.

One major problem with wealth inequality is that people dont all have the same opportunities. Wealthier families usually have more access to better education, healthcare, housing, and financial support, while lower income families may struggle with rent, food, bills, and debt. Perenti explains that having more wealth can also give people more economic power. You can see this in everyday life when wealthy people are able to buy property and investments that increase in value, while lower income people may be living paycheck to paycheck. They might spend most of their money on basic needs and have very little left to save or invest for the future.