using the data reported in table column averaging across years and extrapolating trends for countries where available data cover only a short period it can be shown that the gini coefficient for market income has on average increased by over a tenyear period across the countries shown this is a very substantial increase over a relatively short period of time for instance and as discussed below is the same order of magnitude as the reduction in inequality among the nonelderly population that is achieved by the entire taxbenefit system in some countries eg switzerland or the united states