Le disuguaglianze di reddito e di ricchezza sono aumentate in tutti i paesi avanzati. Nonostante i molti studi apparsi finora, manca ancora una spiegazione convincente delle cause di questo fenomeno. Questo libro propone un'interpretazione basata su quattro motori della disuguaglianza: il potere del capitale sul lavoro, l'ascesa di un "capitalismo oligarchico", l'individualizzazione delle condizioni economiche, l'arretramento della politica. L'azione congiunta di questi motori sta cambiando i modi di funzionamento non soltanto del sistema economico ma anche di quello politico: l'economia diventa meno dinamica, la societą pił ingiusta, la politica meno democratica.

Inequality within advanced countries has returned to levels typical of a century ago. At the global level it remains extremely high despite the rapid growth of major developing countries such as China, India and Brazil. This makes inequality a major economic issue and a major social problem and political challenge as recognised by two recent OECD Reports.

However, until now, economic inequality has been the object of limited research efforts and attracts modest attention in the political arena; despite important advances in the knowledge of its dimensions, a convincing understanding of the mechanisms at its roots is still lacking.

This book provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the economics of inequality. The authors present the evidence, an investigation of the main mechanisms leading to increasing disparities and arguments for appropriate policy actions.

Inequality within advanced countries has returned to levels typical of a century ago. At the global level it remains extremely high despite the rapid growth of major developing countries such as China, India and Brazil. This makes inequality a major economic issue and a major social problem and political challenge as recognised by two recent OECD Reports.

However, until now, economic inequality has been the object of limited research efforts and attracts modest attention in the political arena; despite important advances in the knowledge of its dimensions, a convincing understanding of the mechanisms at its roots is still lacking.

This book provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the economics of inequality. The authors present the evidence, an investigation of the main mechanisms leading to increasing disparities and arguments for appropriate policy actions.