Smart Talk: Middle class shrinking in PA?

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, September 24, 2014:

The Occupy Wall Street movement and other similar demonstrations across the country three years ago made the “top one percent” household words when referring to the wealthiest Americans.

Income inequality was certainly an issue before then but ever since, it has been identified as one of the biggest challenges the economy faces.

A report released last week by the left-leaning Keystone Research Center provides numbers that indicate the income gap is having a detrimental impact across the state.

The report found that the middle class got smaller by percentage in all 67 Pennsylvania counties since the late 1970s and that the percentage of income derived by the top earners increased.

On Wednesday’s Smart Talk, we’ll examine the factors that led to the disparities. They include the loss of manufacturing jobs, flat consumer spending, and large increases in top earners’ incomes as part of the problem.

Dr. Mark Price, an economist with Keystone Research Center and co-author of the report appears on the program.

Dr. Price also points to a stagnant minimum wage, fewer union jobs, and government policies as contributors.