Wage Inequality: Why It Matters and What to Do About It

Heidi Shierholz is the chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor. She was previously with the Economic Policy Institute, where she coauthored two editions of The State of Working America. Shierholz has researched and spoken widely on the economy and economic policy as it affects middle- and low-income families, especially with regard to unemployment, labor force participation, compensation, income and wealth inequality, young workers, and the minimum wage, and she has repeatedly been called to testify in Congress. She completed her undergraduate degree at Grinnell College and earned an MS in statistics from Iowa State. She holds an MA and PhD in economics from the University of Michigan. Part of the Iowa State Economics Forum and National Affairs Series: When American Values Are in Conflict