A ascensão da desigualdade econômica nos Estados Unidos: o declínio relativo do país no âmbito nacional e internacional (1980-2021)

Abstract

Since the 1980s, economic inequality in the United States has increased significantly. This has been causing losses in the economy and beyond, especially for the poorest part of the population. Therefore, this work sought to analyze the effects of economic inequality in the world's greatest power, presenting different concepts of inequality and their segmentations, as well as the difference in income and wealth, extremely important definitions to understand the subject, being conceptualized primarily in the first chapter. A historical review, from the 1980s onwards, is highlighted in the second chapter, punctuating the neoliberalist policy of the then US president, Ronald Reagan. Thus, the main object of analysis – the USA and the great increase in economic inequality as the main factor for its relative decline at the international level – was examined based on the literature review, as well as quali-quantitative and exploratory research as the main methodologies used. In this way, the work consists of explaining how inequality is a major obstacle to the growth and development, mainly economic, of a country, as well as highlighting the increase in violence, polarization, social division, among other examples, as a result of the increase in inequality.