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Real-time inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Blanchet, Thomas
  • Mouillet, Léon
  • Saez, Emmanuel
  • Zucman, Gabriel

Abstract

This paper constructs monthly distributions of national income for the United States. We develop a methodology to disaggregate annual distributions and project monthly changes in a timely manner by combining high-frequency public data sources. This allows us to estimate growth by social groups as soon as quarterly macroeconomic growth numbers are released, and to track the distributional impacts of government policies during and in the aftermath of recessions in real time. We test and validate our methodology by implementing it retrospectively back to 1976. Estimates are available at https://realtimeinequality.org.

Suggested Citation

  • Blanchet, Thomas & Mouillet, Léon & Saez, Emmanuel & Zucman, Gabriel, 2026. "Real-time inequality," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:260:y:2026:i:c:s0047272726001374
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2026.105701
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E01 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Measurement and Data on National Income and Product Accounts and Wealth; Environmental Accounts
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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