Have the benefits of economic growth over the last 25 years been distributed equally?

The correct choice highlights that the benefits of economic growth over the last quarter-century have not been shared fairly across different segments of the population. Research and data consistently indicate that, despite overall economic growth, wealth has increasingly concentrated among the upper echelons of society, while lower-income groups have seen much less improvement in their economic situations.

This unequal distribution of wealth is often illustrated by rising income inequality statistics, which show that a large portion of economic gains has accrued to the wealthiest individuals and corporations. Meanwhile, many low- and middle-income earners have experienced stagnation or only modest increases in their earnings, indicating that the benefits of growth have primarily favored higher-income individuals.

Additionally, this disparity can also relate to other factors such as geographic location, with some regions or urban areas benefiting more than rural counterparts, but the statement specifically addresses the overall distribution of benefits as unequal, which is broadly recognized in economic analyses.