HereÂs a rough-cut version. The blue line, left scale, shows median family income in 2008 dollars; the red line, right scale, shows the top marginal tax rate, a rough indicator of the overall stance of policy. Basically, US postwar economic history falls into two parts: an era of high taxes on the rich and extensive regulation, during which living standards experienced extraordinary growth; and an era of low taxes on the rich and deregulation, during which living standards for most Americans rose fitfully at best.
Yup.
Not proof, and there's that bugaboo I have about the importance of the top marginal rate vs the actual total tax percentage paid, but it's an interesting correlation.
Cheers,
Scott.