Chuck Collins
Encyclopedia
Chuck Collins is an author and a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies
in Washington, DC, where he directs the Program on Inequality
and the Common Good. He is also cofounder of Wealth for Common Good. He is an expert on U.S. economic inequality and has pioneered efforts to bring together investors and business leaders to speak out publicly against corporate practices and economic policies that increase economic inequality.
Collins has worked with a number of prominent wealthy individuals, including William H. Gates, Sr.
and George Soros
in an effort to promote tax equity. He is the great-grandson and an heir to the fortune of 19th-century meatpacking mogul Oscar Mayer
and the grandson of the U.S. pianist and composer Edward Joseph Collins
. He first caught attention when he gave an inheritance of $500,000 to several foundations at the age of 26.
Collins is coauthor, with William H. Gates, Sr.
, of the book Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes, which argues that the estate tax is both fair and necessary. He is also coauthor of Robin Hood Was Right and several other books.
Collins was the cofounder of the organization United for a Fair Economy
in Boston, Massachusetts.
He is a graduate of Hampshire College
(B.A.
, 1984), and holds a master's degree (1987) from the School of Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University
.
Collins is a father to one daughter and is married to Patricia Brennan.
Institute for Policy Studies
Institute for Policy Studies is a left-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C..It has been directed by John Cavanagh since 1998- History :...
in Washington, DC, where he directs the Program on Inequality
Economic inequality
Economic inequality comprises all disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income. The term typically refers to inequality among individuals and groups within a society, but can also refer to inequality among countries. The issue of economic inequality is related to the ideas of...
and the Common Good. He is also cofounder of Wealth for Common Good. He is an expert on U.S. economic inequality and has pioneered efforts to bring together investors and business leaders to speak out publicly against corporate practices and economic policies that increase economic inequality.
Collins has worked with a number of prominent wealthy individuals, including William H. Gates, Sr.
William H. Gates, Sr.
William Henry Gates, Sr. is a retired American attorney and philanthropist and author of the book Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime. He is the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.-Life and career:Gates was born in Bremerton, Washington, to William Henry Gates I or Sr...
and George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
in an effort to promote tax equity. He is the great-grandson and an heir to the fortune of 19th-century meatpacking mogul Oscar Mayer
Oscar Mayer
Oscar Mayer is an American meat and cold cut production company, owned by Kraft Foods, known for its hot dogs, bologna, bacon and Lunchables products.-History:...
and the grandson of the U.S. pianist and composer Edward Joseph Collins
Edward Joseph Collins
Edward Joseph Collins was an American pianist, conductor and composer of romantic classical music. Collins was born in Joliet, Illinois. He studied with Rudolf Ganz in Chicago and in 1906 went with Ganz to Berlin, where he studied performance and composition at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik...
. He first caught attention when he gave an inheritance of $500,000 to several foundations at the age of 26.
Collins is coauthor, with William H. Gates, Sr.
William H. Gates, Sr.
William Henry Gates, Sr. is a retired American attorney and philanthropist and author of the book Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime. He is the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.-Life and career:Gates was born in Bremerton, Washington, to William Henry Gates I or Sr...
, of the book Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes, which argues that the estate tax is both fair and necessary. He is also coauthor of Robin Hood Was Right and several other books.
Collins was the cofounder of the organization United for a Fair Economy
United for a Fair Economy
United for a Fair Economy is a national Boston, Massachusetts-based movement support organization that highlights the detriments of uneven wealth distribution. UFE was co-founded by Chuck Collins and Felice Yeskel in 1995...
in Boston, Massachusetts.
He is a graduate of Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
(B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, 1984), and holds a master's degree (1987) from the School of Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University, also known as SNHU, is a private university in Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire. The university is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and also has numerous specialized...
.
Collins is a father to one daughter and is married to Patricia Brennan.
External links
- Fast Company interview with Collins
- Institute on Policy Studies Program on Inequality and the Common Good site
- Business for Shared Prosperity
- ExtremeInequality.org This website, maintained by the Working Group on Extreme Inequality, offers statistics, news, and opinions on economic inequality in the U.S.
- United for a Fair Economy site