What factor contributed to the increasing disparity between the wealthy and the middle class in the U.S.?

The increasing disparity between the wealthy and the middle class in the U.S. can be attributed to factors such as recession and economic challenges. Economic downturns tend to disproportionately impact the middle class, leading to job losses, wage stagnation, and reduced opportunities for upward mobility. During recessions, wealth often becomes more concentrated among those who are already affluent, as they have the resources to weather economic storms better than those in the middle or lower classes. The impact of recession tends to exacerbate existing inequalities, as the wealthy can invest and recover more quickly, while the middle class faces heightened financial pressure.

While improved job opportunities, economic growth in the 1990s, and expansion of the middle class can have positive effects on societal wealth distribution, these factors do not explain the widening gap as effectively as the pressures faced during economic downturns. Therefore, the inherent challenges during recessions serve as a more significant contributing factor to the growing divide between wealth classes.