I’m back in the saddle … Writing saddle that is — after nearly a year in nursing care for pelvic surgeries and a hip infection. I hope all that is ended with my new hip implanted in late April and some learning to walk again. With a return to research reading, one of the latest issues t o catch my attention is an April 27 report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The report details the real source of continuing affordability problems, and explains it’s not just prices rising — because prices have always been rising some. The institute states the real root of affordability is continuing rising inequality — deliberately caused by big money investors and corporate managers.  In three key takeaways from its report, the institute explains: “Income inequality has skyrocketed since 1979 because of intentional policy choices that suppressed wages for typical families — to accelerate income growth at the top. 2. “Middle-class household incomes would be roughly $30,000 higher today if their incomes had simply kept pace with average (national) income growth since 1979. 3. “Recognizing that today’s affordability problems are overwhelmingly inequality problems is the key to constructing the right policy solutions.” Citing Congressional Budget Office data, the institute explains: “For more than four decades, most of the income growth in the U.S. economy has been funneled to those at the very top, leaving typical families with far less than their proportionate share of the economy’s gains.” And it has “resulted from an intentional policy campaign of wage suppression,” the institute added. The institute further explains: “Labor markets in capitalist economies are inherently tilted toward employers. Fair play and broadly shared prosperity only materialize when policy affirmatively aims to correct this imbalance.” Policy choices were different prior to the 1980s. The institute notes they “bolstered workers’ leverage and bargaining power” to keep labor markets growth “fast and equal for decades” after World War II.  But lawmakers rolled back those policies “at the behest of capital owners and corporate managers.” And just in case you haven’t made the connection yet, I must draw your attention to the failed “trickle-down economy” policies initiated during the 1980s era of President Ronald Reagan. As a result, between 1979 and 2022, market income for the 1% of our economy jumped a whopping 277% — “from $784,573 to $2.958 million.”  Compare that to “just 26% growth for the middle fifth of households,” where growth went from $76,359 to $96,335. The institute also identifies some policy changes that are needed to raise the equality quotient for U.S. households.  To start, it advises protecting workers’ right to organize unions — while fostering long periods of low unemployment. That second part likely will be forced upon our U.S. workforce as a result of three continuing developments — our aging population, low birth rate, plus the deporting and turning away of immigrants. Our native population already is declining as a result the falling birth rate — now at 1.6 children for child-bearing adult, compared to the replacement rate of 2.1.  And we’re already experiencing huge worker shortages in various industries — especially in the building trades and healthcare industries. The construction sector alone is short approximately 500,000 skilled workers. And as many as 1.4 million trade jobs across seven core categories — electricians, welders, mechanics, plumbers, HVAC technicians, carpenters, and construction — risk going unfilled by the end of this decade. Meanwhile our U.S. healthcare system faces a severe workforce shortage driven by an aging population and high turnover. Projections indicate a national deficit of over 108,000 registered nurses and 245,000 licensed practical nurses, plus shortages in more than 30 physician specialties, leaving 140,000 roles unfilled. All that is happening as our Immigration and Customs Enforcement is deporting 35,000 to 39,000 people per month. In addition, more than 80,000 people abandoned their immigration cases and opted to voluntarily depart the U.S. between January 2025 and March of this year. Finally, the institute cites the need for policies that will keep minimum wages high to help families claim their fair share of income growth. EPI researchers estimate a single adult with no children requires at least $17 per hour (roughly $35,000 annually) to achieve a modest, adequate standard of living in any region of the U.S. — but considerably more than that in states like New York and California. And yet our federal minimum wage remains unchanged at $7.25 since it was set at that rate in July 2009. So it should be obvious that our inequality and affordability situations will continue to grow worse unless there are substantial attitude changes in many members of Congress. Darrell Berkheimer is a retired journalist whose career spans more than 60 years. He was city editor and news editor at The Daily Herald, Provo, during the 1970s and ’80s. He also filled newspaper editor positions in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas and New Mexico, and is the author of several essays books. Contact him at [email protected].  The post Affordability issues stem from deliberate policies appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less