Economic Inequality Dashboard

Economic Inequality Dashboard

Visualizing how social safety net programs create broader economic benefits

FSI768.42↓1.65(-0.21%)|
LWI1243.78↑4.32(+0.35%)|
OG324.19↓2.87(-0.88%)|
FSI768.42↓1.65(-0.21%)|
LWI1243.78↑4.32(+0.35%)|
OG324.19↓2.87(-0.88%)|

Food Security Index

Tracks economic performance differences between populations with and without food security assistance

FSI
768.42-1.65 (-0.21%)

Living Wage Index

Measures economic contributions from workers above versus below living wage thresholds

LWI
1243.78+4.32 (+0.35%)

Opportunity Gap

Quantifies potential economic gains from reducing inequality across socioeconomic groups

OG
324.19-2.87 (-0.88%)

Social Safety Net Economic Impacts

SNAP Benefits Multiplier Effect

How food assistance creates $1.50-1.80 in economic activity per dollar spent

$1.7x
Economic multiplier per SNAP dollar
13,050
Estimated jobs created
Key Finding: For every dollar spent on SNAP benefits, the economy generates an average of $1.7 in economic activity.

Education ROI

Lifetime earnings increases versus public education investment costs

27.1x
Average ROI
$312.5K
Lifetime Earnings
8.2 yrs
Payback Period
Key Finding: Public investment in education yields an average return of 27.1x over a person's lifetime through increased earnings and tax revenue.

Public Transit Economic Impact

Job accessibility improvements and resulting wage growth

+42.5%
Job Accessibility
+3.8%
Wage Growth
$4,250
Annual Savings
Urban Core
Accessibility: +38.2%
Economic Impact: +5.6%
Inner Suburbs
Accessibility: +52.7%
Economic Impact: +4.2%
Outer Suburbs
Accessibility: +27.8%
Economic Impact: +2.3%
Rural Connections
Accessibility: +15.4%
Economic Impact: +1.8%
Key Finding: Improved transit access increases job opportunities by 42.5% on average, leading to 3.8% wage growth.

Healthcare Access Dashboard

Productivity gains and reduced absenteeism in areas with expanded healthcare

+3.7%
Productivity Gain
-18.4%
Absenteeism Reduction
$1,860
Annual Cost Savings

Coverage Level Comparison

Key Finding: Expanded healthcare access results in 3.7% productivity gain and 18.4% reduction in absenteeism, saving $1,860 annually per worker.

Housing Cost Burden

Consumer spending changes when housing costs are reduced to 30% of income

37.2%
Current Housing Burden
30.0%
Target Housing Burden
$178.50
Monthly Freed Spending

Housing Cost Burden by Income Level

Potential Monthly Spending Increase

Economic Impact of Reduced Housing Burden

Multiplier Effect
$178.50
Monthly Spending
×
1.4x
Multiplier
=
$249.90
Economic Impact
Target Budget Allocation
Key Finding: Reducing housing costs to 30% of income would free up $178.50 per household monthly, generating $249.90 in economic activity through the multiplier effect.

Childcare Subsidy Impact

Workforce participation rates and resulting economic growth

+7.5%
Workforce Participation
+1.1%
Economic Growth
2.3x
Return on Investment

Participation vs. Income Effects

Key Finding: Childcare subsidies increase workforce participation by 7.5%, driving economic growth of 1.1% with a 2.3x return on investment.

Direct Cash Transfer Circulation

How UBI-style payments flow through local economies

2.1x
Local Economic Multiplier
-14.5%
Poverty Reduction
$1.00Input
→
$2.10Output

Spending Distribution

Economic Impact by Category

Spending Category Analysis

CategorySpending PercentageEconomic MultiplierTotal Impact
Food & Groceries
37.8%1.8x$0.68
Housing & Utilities
25.6%1.4x$0.36
Healthcare
12.2%2.2x$0.27
Transportation
10.5%1.9x$0.20
Education
5.4%3.1x$0.17
Debt Repayment
4.8%0.9x$0.04
Other Spending
3.7%1.6x$0.06
Key Finding: Each dollar of direct cash transfer generates $2.1 in local economic activity, with the highest multipliers in education (3.1x) and healthcare.

Historical Trends

Food Security Index (12 Month)

↑ Positive trend over selected period

Living Wage Index (12 Month)

↑ Positive trend over selected period

Opportunity Gap (12 Month)

↑ Positive trend over selected period

Economic Impact Comparisons

Economic Growth Metrics

Comparison between current economic scenario and reduced inequality scenario

Average potential improvement: +41.6%

Innovation & Productivity

Comparison between current economic scenario and reduced inequality scenario

Average potential improvement: +43.4%

Research-Based Solutions

Policy Interventions

Research-backed interventions that could reduce economic inequality and boost overall economic output

Expanded Earned Income Tax Credit

Universal Child Care

Living Wage Policies

Affordable Housing Investments

Why This Matters

Economic inequality isn't just a social issue—it's an economic one. Research suggests that extreme inequality reduces overall economic growth, innovation, and prosperity. By implementing evidence-based policies that reduce inequality, we can create a more productive and dynamic economy that benefits everyone.

The Economic Case for Reducing Inequality

Enhanced Consumer Spending

When income is more evenly distributed, a larger portion of the population has disposable income to spend, increasing overall consumer demand and economic activity.

Improved Human Capital

Reducing inequality improves access to education and healthcare, creating a more skilled workforce and reducing productivity losses from preventable health issues.

Increased Social Mobility

Greater equality of opportunity allows talent to rise regardless of background, leading to better resource allocation and economic innovation.

Note: This dashboard uses simulated data based on economic research to illustrate concepts. The exact numbers are fictional, but the relationships they represent are supported by actual research.

Economic Inequality Dashboard | Data Visualization Project