One way to `see' the distribution of wealth in the U.S. is to imagine a group of 100 people who have a $100 between them. Evenly distributed each would have one dollar of wealth. Alas, that is far from the actual distribution. According to the most recent study, Currents and Undercurrents, by the Survey of Consumer Finance (Federal Reserve, Department of Treasury, 2006) wealth is distributed accordingly: 50 individuals at the bottom have a nickel. ($0.05 times 50 = $2.50) The next 40 each have $0.70 of wealth (40 times $0.70 - $28.00). The next 9 each have $4.00 of wealth (nine times $4.00 = $36.00) The last richest individual has $33.40 (one time $33.40).
Certainly, in capital terms, I'd expect at least some of the hundred Americans to have a net financial worth of nil. I'd even expect some to be in debt/negative equity and to have negative wealth.
In income terms, there are going to be some Americans coming in at nil as well.
I wonder where their nickel really ends up...
