This article examines the main reasons for the widening of income inequalities: tax cuts in the 1980s, growing wage inequalities, growing inequalities from income investment gains, changes in the demographic composition of the American population. Changes in the structure of employment, foreign trade, technological progress, dramatic increases in the earnings of a small segment of the population, and the decline of the influence of trade unions - all these factors contributed to the widening of wage differentials. Wealth is distributed more unevenly than incomes. The USA has the highest poverty rate among developed countries. Female-headed families make up the majority of the poor. A small proportion of full-time workers are also poor. The poverty rate of children, especially of minorities, is high. The consequences of extreme inequalities are examined.

Keywords: income inequalities, unequal distribution of wealth, child poverty, working poor