Study: For first time in history, US billionaires paid a lower tax rate than the working class

Last year, for the first time in history, America's richest billionaires paid a lower effective tax rate than the working class, according to a new study.

The findings were published by UC Berkeley economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman in their book-length study, "The Triumph of Injustice," set to be released next week.

The analysis found that the wealthiest 400 families in the country paid an average tax rate of 23 percent in 2018, while the bottom half of households paid an average tax rate of 24.2 percent.

In 1960, the top 400 families had an average tax rate of 56 percent, according to a report from the Washington Post. By 1980, it had fallen to 47 percent. Meanwhile, the working class's tax rate has remained relatively stable, the report said.

The economists write that they decided to examine the top 400 families because they currently hold more wealth than the bottom 60 percent of households.


About the Author:

Brian is an Associate Producer for ClickOnDetroit. He graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a degree in Journalism and Screen Studies.