U.S. work force; U.S. GDP; Taxation

Although work opportunities for women have increased dramatically in the last fifty years and the majority of women today work outside the home, women earn less than men who do comparable work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn. Pay inequalities are spread across the job spectrum, and even highly educated women earn less than their male counterparts. Female computer programmers, for example, earn 81 percent of male programmers’ salaries. Female college professors earn 77 percent.

A recent study by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation found that the difference in pay increases over time. One year after graduating from college, young women make 80 percent of what young men make, but ten years after graduation, women make 69 percent of men’s salaries. The study also found that although women who went into male-dominated fields received higher salaries than women who went into female-dominated fields. Ironically, even in female-dominated fields, men made more money. Some of the differences are explained by the employers men and women work for. More women work for non-profit organizations and local government, which typically pay lower wages than private companies and the federal government.

Sources:

• Working Parents Blog.
• Goldberg Dey, Judy and Catherine Hill. Behind the Pay Gap. AAUW Educational Foundation, 2007.
• Carman, Diane. “Why do men earn more? Just because.” Denver Post, April 24, 2007.

U.S. GDP

The United States has the largest economy in the world, with an estimated GDP in 2006 of $12.98 trillion. The next largest economies are those of the European Union as a whole ($12.82 trillion), followed by China ($10.0 trillion), Japan ($4.22 trillion), and India ($4.04 trillion). As a result of its strength and flexibility, the American economy has continued to grow in recent years despite having to overcome major setbacks, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the war and ongoing occupation of Iraq since March 2003, Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, and the steep increases in oil prices. Of the fifty states, the five with the largest GDPs are California ($1.62 trillion in 2005), Texas ($989 billion), New York ($958 billion), Florida ($673 billion), and Illinois ($560 billion).

Sources:

• Central Intelligence Agency. “The United States.” The World Factbook.
• Central Intelligence Agency. “Rank Order—GDP.” The World Factbook.
• U.S. Census Bureau. “Gross Domestic Product by State in Current Dollars, 2005.” State Rankings—Statistical Abstract of the United States. (accessed May 23, 2007).

Taxation

Across the United States, states impose surprisingly different amounts of excise tax on gasoline. In 2006, Georgia and Alaska had the lowest tax rates, at 7.5 and 8 cents per gallon, respectively. Washington state had the highest rate, at 34 cents per gallon, with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin following at about 31 cents. The median rate nationwide is 20 cents per gallon. But state excise taxes are not the only charges that add to the price of gas, which consumers pay at the pump. Some states also add environmental taxes, sales taxes, industry taxes, and other fees. In this way, New York residents end up paying not 8 cents, but 42 cents per gallon in taxes. Local governments also impose additional taxes. Hawaii, for example, with a 16 cent per gallon tax is one of the ten states with the lowest gas tax. But in many Hawaiian counties the total tax consumers pay is more than twice as much.

Source:

• Weston, Liz Pulliam. “The Basics: The 7-Eleven tax: Gas, smokes and goodies,” msn: Money. (accessed June 11, 2007).