U.S. Economy Increasingly Dependent on Government Social Benefits Ratio of Income from Government Social Benefits to Wages and Salaries Now Equal to 35%, Up From 26% in 2007, 22% in 2000 and 9% in 1960

March 15, 2011 A report by TrimTabs Investment Research Inc., found that in 2010 the United States government paid out $2.3 trillion to individuals for social benefits; contrasted against the $3.9 trillion in public and private wages and salaries reported in 2010, the $2.3 trillion is 35% the size of wages and salaries. In 2000, the relationship between the value of social benefit payments to the value of wages was 21%; and in 1960, it was just 10%. Download the Report . . .