In line with the results reported earlier in Figure 7.2, a comparison between pre- and after-tax distributions shows a small increase in redistribution through the tax system, meaning that the tax system has slightly slowed the growth in after-tax inequality. While the cumulative effect of reforms was small, there are some significant policy effects for individual subperiods. Interestingly, their patterns appear to be roughly in line with popular perceptions regarding the political cycle, with disequalising (equalising) effects observed for policy changes implemented during Republican (Democrat) administrations, 1981-1993 and 2001-08 for the former, and 1978-1981 and 1993-2001 for the latter. There were significant differences between results for the lower and upper parts of the distribution (not reported).