Go to Table 1 in the Last Word and compute the ratio of average wealth to median wealth for each of the 4 years. What trend do you find?
Median and Average Family Wealth,
Survey Years, 1995€“2004 (in 2004 Dollars)

What is your explanation for the trend? The Federal estate tax redistributes wealth in two ways: by encouraging charitable giving, which reduces the taxable estate, and by heavily taxing extraordinarily large estates and using the proceeds to fund government programs. Do you favor repealing the estate tax?Explain.

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Year 1995 1998 2001 2004 Median $70,800 83,100 91,700 93,100 Average $260,800 327,500 421,500 448,200