- Short video lecture by Tanweer Ali with transcript
- Inequality Matters – the Atlantic
- Wilkinson: How economic inequality harms societies -TED, real effects
- Freeland: The rise of the new global super-rich – TED
- Stiglitz, The price of inequality – vanity fair article
- Income inequality debate – US council on foreign relations
- Inequality: the choices we made – some laws made it worse in US
- The costs of child poverty – Child Poverty Action Group in UK
- Poverty affects the growth of children’s brains – sciencemag
Optional supplementary readings:
- Can we afford to wait for redistribution? by Sam Pizzigati
- Randall Wray on inequality, redistribution and predistribution -article
- Piketty’s Capital – a summary
Discussion questions:
Please take part in at least two of the following discussions. As well as posting yourself, you should also respond to other people’s posts – we recommend you post at least two replies:
1. Though more and more people are speaking up about rising inequality, nobody (or at least very few) are suggesting that we create a society in which everyone has exactly equal wealth and income. We seem to be willing to tolerate some inequality but to but up to a limit (it is the limit that is the subject of debate). How much inequality are you prepared to tolerate?
2. Is it more important for countries to aim to be richer or more equal? Would you want your country to be richer or more equal?
3. Why has income inequality in the USA and other countries been rising since the 1970s? Suggest one cause and explain it. Try to think of something that has not already been suggested.
4. Imagine you are your country’s president or prime minister and you are concerned with rising income inequality. What would you do to reduce the gap between rich and poor? Suggest one measure that you think would be the most effective.
Assignment:
What are the harmful consequences of rising income inequality? What price do societies pay for high inequality? Based on this module readings/videos put together a list (use numbers or bullet points). Explain each item on your list briefly.
2-3 pages, up to 750 words long.