Final answer:
Changes in family structures have contributed significantly to the rise in income inequality in the U.S. since the 1970s, with growth in single-parent families and two-career high-earner couples being key factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Since the 1970s in the United States, changes in family structure have been significant in relation to family income levels. The rise of single-parent families, who frequently fall at the lower end of the income spectrum, has had economic implications. Similarly, the increase in households with two-career high-earner couples has been noted at the upper end of income distribution. This divergence in household composition and earnings patterns has contributed to about half of the increase in income inequality across U.S. households in recent decades. While the suburbs grew and material culture flourished in the 1960s with rising family income, modern families may experience different economic realities, with more debt and less savings as indicated by recent analyses when compared to families in the past.