the 2000 US table includes NY city clerk with an income of 35k (close to the US median) and a multiple of 3. an MD's take was a multiple of 157.
I agree with you that it's misleading because it doesn't include the relative size of these classes. Someone should compute the GINI coefficient for the 1830's france.
If you have a situation where people take home paychecks 154 times larger than the "middle-class" income for bankrupting their companies - this large middle class feels unjustly treated (they are routinely fired for much lesser offenses) and will vote for confiscatory legislation. Remember the behavioral econ results about the irrational behavior in the ultimatum game.
I agree with you that it's misleading because it doesn't include the relative size of these classes. Someone should compute the GINI coefficient for the 1830's france.
If you have a situation where people take home paychecks 154 times larger than the "middle-class" income for bankrupting their companies - this large middle class feels unjustly treated (they are routinely fired for much lesser offenses) and will vote for confiscatory legislation. Remember the behavioral econ results about the irrational behavior in the ultimatum game.