in sweden the opposite occurred implying an increase in inequality panel d illustrates contrasting inequality developments in the two halves of the distribution spain experienced lower growth in topsensitive income standards compared with the middle of the distribution implying contracting inequalities in the upperhalf of the income distribution but at the same time slower growth in bottomsensitive income standards compared with the middle of the distribution implying increasing inequalities in the middle and lowerhalf of the income distribution whether inequality increases occurred across the whole distribution of income such as in sweden or within a narrower part of the distribution such as in the united states and even more so in spain would bear differential policy implications such as eg increasing top marginal tax rates versus introducing tax credits for low incomes