The following data represent the percentage of total adjusted gross income (AGI) earned and percentage of tax paid by various income classes. The top 1% represents the percentage of total AGI earned and tax paid by those whose income is higher than 99% of all earners. The bottom 50% represents the percentage of total AGI earned and tax paid by those whose income is in the bottom 50% of all income earners. For example, in 2001, 17.53% of all income earned in the United States was earned by those in the top 1% of all income earners, while 13.81% of all income earned in the United States was earned by those in the bottom 50% of income earners.

(a) Use the data to make a strong argument that adjusted gross incomes are diverging among Americans.
(b) Use the data to make an argument that, while incomes are diverging between the top 1% and bottom 50%, the total taxes paid as a share of income are also diverging.

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Income Tax Share Income Tax Share Year Income Share Income Share of Top 1% of Earners of Bottom 50% of Top 1% of Earners of Bottom 50% of Earners of Earners 2001 17.53 13.81 33.89 3.97 16.12 2002 14.23 33.71 3.50 34.27 3.46 2003 16.77 13.99 13.42 36.89 3.30 2004 19.00 2005 21.20 12.83 39.38 3.07 2006 22.06 12.51 39.89 2.99 2007 12.26 22.83 40.41 2.89 2008 20.00 12.75 38.02 2.70 17.21 2009 11.88 36.34 2.46 37.38 2010 18.87 11.74 2.36 18.70 2011 11.55 35.06 2.89