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.

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