

by Zoe Pollock

Cord Jefferson points out that Egypt is in many ways more equal than the US. The chart above is based on a measure of distribution inequality called the "Gini Coefficient"; "the lower the number, the more equal the data being measured":

Because despite our unprecedented prosperity, the inequality in the United States is not only drastically worse than Egypt's, it's also worse than Tunisia's and Yemen's as well. ... It's important to keep in mind that, on a whole host of other metricsaverage income, poverty rate, infant mortality rate, etc.America is far better off than places like Egypt and Yemen. That's great, of course, but it ultimately does little to negate the fact that the rich are pulling away from the poor in our country at unprecedented rates.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.