Many economic models are constructed on the basis of an equity-efficiency trade-off, assuming that equality comes at the cost of efficiency. This column argues that inequality is better understood as an economic externality. It matters not only because people care about inequality itself, but because they prefer to live in societies that function smoothly, and inequality affects a wide range of social outcomes – from crime rates and mental health to political polarisation and economic growth. If inequality increases inefficiency, then even narrowly self-interested individuals are affected by its perpetuation.

Analysis of projected sub-national damages from temperature and precipitation show an income reduction of 19% of the world economy within the next 26 years independent of future emission choices.

Wer wenig verdient oder Bürgergeld bezieht, erfüllt die Pariser Klimaziele schon jetzt: Der Soziologe Steffen Mau spricht über die „Ökologie der Arbeiterklasse“, die medial fast nie vorkommt, ...

Why, in a world where wealth matters more than ever, we want to tax it less

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Deutschland: Eher Erben- denn Leistungsgesellschaft

Two new books by the French novelist mark a political turn in his writing.

The planetary ecosystem is in crisis. Humans brought it there. What are we going to do about it? These are three enormous simplifications, the latter two of which in particular have produced endless d...

Most emerging markets have not found an engine of durable growth comparable to manufacturing—most have indeed grown over the last few decades, but dependence on services and commodities exports has ...

Ökonom Zucman sieht eine zunehmende Steuervermeidung im Inland

At times, capitalism resorts to exceptional violence to subordinate workers. Much more commonly, however, it exercises an impersonal, economic form of power that shapes our environment and compels our...

Ein Schuldenschnitt für den Globalen Süden wäre im Interesse aller – außer der herrschenden Klasse. Dass das machbar ist, beweist das Londoner Schuldenabkommen, das heute vor siebzig Jahren besi...

Why rational people often replicate unfairness

Islamwissenschaftler Reinhard Schulze über die Herkunft, Ideologie und Geschichte der Hamas – und warum Israel ihren Aufbau unterstützte.

Whatever we may "owe the future," it isn't a bizarre and dangerous ideology fueled by eugenics and capitalism

The Rich Have a Slight Edge: Evidence from Comparative Data on Income-Based Inequality in Policy Congruence

Ståle Holgersen moves us beyond the stale impasse between degrowth and eco-modernist approaches to eco-socialist strategy.

Humanity in this moment faces two major crises: one ecological, growing more acute with every planetary boundary passed; the other social, leading to deprivation and despair across the globe.

Ungleichheit schlägt sich körperlich nieder, das macht die Literatur von Édouard Louis schmerzhaft sichtbar. In „Changer: méthode“ beschreibt er seinen Bildungsgang als gewaltvolle Gegendressu...

How does economic inequality change society? The source for global inequality data. Open access, high quality wealth and income inequality data developed by an international academic consortium.

(Forthcoming Article) - We construct series of post-tax income for France over the 1900–2018 period and compare them with U.S. series. We quantify the extent of redistribution—the reduction from p...

How Bill Gates and agribusiness giants are throttling small farmers in Africa and the Global South.

Released on the edge of summer in 2009, this WOAT party anthem fills me with a sadness like no other.

Die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels sind unübersehbar. Auch der Rhein ist stark betroffen. Forscher sagen: In 30 Jahren wird es Deutschlands größten Fluss, wie wir ihn kennen, nicht mehr geben.

In seinem jüngsten Buch gibt sich Star-Ökonom Thomas Piketty erstaunlich optimistisch: Wenn wir an die Errungenschaften der Vergangenheit anknüpfen, können wir eine Welt der Gleich...

According to new research, a scientific consensus is forming for a new economic paradigm that looks beyond growth. This post presents proof…

New infographics by CEO and WeSmellGas expose the dark side of the EU’s hydrogen craze – and the firepower of the corporate giants driving it. The EU is hyping hydrogen as the miracle that will cu...