How Tax Records Sharpen the Picture of Top Incomes

https://unequalworlds.birchreport.com/posts/how-tax-records-sharpen-the-picture-of-top-incomes

Tax records, often seen as dry bureaucratic data, actually offer a surprisingly clear window into the earnings of the wealthy. While surveys might miss the super-rich or rely on hazy memories, these official forms provide hard numbers. By analyzing income reported to the taxman, researchers can track trends at the very top—spotting the rise of business owners versus salaried executives, or seeing how capital gains drive inequality. It's like adding a high-resolution lens to economic statistics,…