Economic Inequality in Present-Day AmericaThe economic inequality in america is evident in the education gap as the poor are not given the same educational opportunities as the rich. THe poor a lower quality education than the rich, and are not given the saem chance to succeed in their education. This lack of quality education for the poor is caused by the system that funds public schools. "Public schools are funded by state, local, and federal governments.
This funding is reliant on income and property taxes" (Global Citizen). This means that since areas with poorer people and cheaper housing will receive less in income and property taxes, leaving less for improving schools and giving poor students the quality education they deserve. One example of this economic inequality is in Connecticut where "high-poverty areas like Bridgeport and New Britain have lower home values and collect less taxes, and so can't raise as much money as a place like Darien or Greenwich… Greenwich spends $6000 more per pupil per year than Bridgeport" (The Atlantic). Children in those low-income areas like Bridgeport do not receive a quality education, and therefore are not given the same economic opportunities as children in high-income areas like Greenwich.
Furthermore, children in bad schools have an even lower chance to succeed because "they are less likely to afford private preschool or the many enrichment opportunities - extra lessons, tutors, music and art, elite sports teams - that richer, better educated parents lavish on their children" (The New York Times). While poor students may be receiving the same schooling that richer students in schools of equal quality, the richer students are given the opportunity to excel because of the extra instruction that they are able to afford. Because richer students are given this opportunity to excel in their learning environments, that poorer students are not, this is another example of economic inequality in America. Despite these immense challenges, some poor people are able to reach and graduate from college.
However, their wages are still less than richer people with similar levels of education. For example, people who grew up poor and were able to earn a BA earn substantially less than rich people with BAs. Moreover, "the proportional increase of salary with an increase of education level for those who grew up poor is much less than for those who did not" (Brookings). And so even when the poor complete their education, they are still affected by the unjust consequences of economic inequality.
