The Century Foundation formerly the Twentieth Century Fund Policy in Perspective Economic Inequality W hether measured in terms of income, wealth, standard of living, or opportunity, the gap between the rich and most other citizens is wider now in the United States than it has been at any time since the Great Depression.
Poverty continues to rise and average income, after adjusting for inflation, remains stagnant.
The Century Foundation projects in this area are aimed at finding ways to enhance economic prosperity and equity for all citizens. Recent debates over welfare, housing, immigration, antidiscrimination, and other social policies have often been characterized by political positioning and inflammatory, divisive rhetoric rather than substance. Century authors are exploring new approaches to these controversial issues in order to assure that those in need receive assistance that genuinely improves their lives and strengthens the nation's social fabric. In Progress Reshaping Intelligence for the Twenty-First Century Gregory F. Treverton, director of the Center for International Security and Defense Policy at the RAND Corporation, is developing a case for a shift in the current priorities of the intelligence community in order to ensure that it will be able to meet the needs of policymakers in coming years. U.S. Policy and the Future of Korea Selig Harrison, a Century Foundation fellow, analyzes U.S. interests and policy options in North and South Korea in the context of the post-cold war economic, political and security environment.