Identify the major changes in earnings inequality in the U.S. since 1980.

First, inequality increased significantly in the 1980s in both the upper and lower halves of the earnings distribution.  Second, downward pressure on the earnings of the least skilled caused a precipitous increase in earnings inequality in the lower half of the distribution during the 1980s.  Third, earnings became less dispersed in the lower half of the distribution from 1990 to 2005, as earnings at the bottom of the distribution increased relative to median earnings.  Fourth, the Great Recession caused significant increase in inequality in the lower half of the earnings distribution as measured by the 50:20 and 50:10 ratios.  Fifth, there has been significant increase in relative earnings of those in the top 10 percent of earnings since 1990, implying that the distribution of earnings has stretched out at its top end.