Archived Articles on General Analysis on Inequality of Wealth and Income Distribution

General Analysis on Inequality of Wealth and Income Distribution

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2004

US Led a Resurgence Last Year Among Millionaires World-Wide (June 15, 2004)

Stock market gains and tax cuts for the affluent bolstered the wealth of the richest portions of the world's population last year. The US leads industrialized countries in income disparity, with the top 1% controlling over one third of the assets. The article alludes to continuing lopsided growth and an increasing wealth distribution gap. (Wall Street Journal)

Farmers Starved of Cash, Says MP (April 21, 2004)

This article claims that the directors and shareholders of Tesco, a UK supermarket chain, are benefiting from its record profit, equal to half the income generated by the entire UK farming industry, at the expense of the farming community. Environmentalists accuse Tesco of treating its farmers unfairly, paying the lowest prices to suppliers, using its "muscle" to put small shops out of business, and selling furniture from illegally logged timber. (Guardian)

Can Globalization Be Tamed? (February 24, 2004)

A UN report argues that rich countries must radically change their trade, economic and immigration policies for the world's poor to "share in the benefits of globalization." The report criticizes the "persistent imbalancesâ€¦in the world economy," illustrated by the fact that over the last 40 years the income of the world's richest 20 nations has tripled, whilst the income of the 20 poorest has barely changed. (BBC)

Better than Foreign Aid (January 2, 2004)

Some countries in Latin America receive more money from remittances sent by relatives living in North America than from foreign aid. The Washington Post dubiously claims that remittances constitute a "fully functioning system of wealth redistribution," and that they offer the "most powerful argument" against involving governments in a "new hemispheric social contract."

2003

Record National Debt as Government Spends on Prestige Projects(December 23, 2003)

Relentless poverty ensnares two-thirds of Swaziland's population, yet the government seems to have forgotten about the humanitarian crisis that ravishes the country. The government funded an airport, an amusement and international trade park, thus burdening the country with a record national debt. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)

Poverty Becomes Israel's New Enemy (November 1, 2003)

Once the most egalitarian society in the developed world, Israel is now among the least so. In the West Bank and Gaza, 60 percent of Palestinians live in extreme poverty. But also in the rest of Israel, people suffer from the government's decision to shrink its role as a welfare provider to force people back into the labor market. (Inter Press Service)

As Inequalities Grow, South Africa's Poor Question the Power of the Ballot (November 2003)

Ten years after the introduction of democracy, South Africa still ranks among the most unequal societies in the world. The government's efforts to accelerate the redistribution of wealth have created a black business class, but failed to lift the country's poor out of poverty. Many poor blacks already lost their faith in the power of the ballot to deliver better standards of living. (Panos)

Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean (October 8, 2003)

This World Bank study points out that "race and ethnicity" still determine the opportunities and welfare of people in Latin America. Unequal distribution of resources puts indigenous and Afro-descended people at a disadvantage. This inequality reflects patterns of the region's European colonization, when elites kept political institutions weak and people uneducated.

Telecentres to Narrow Digital Divide (September 17, 2003)

Although levels of internet access in Latin America approach those in OECD countries, the domestic digital divide has been deepening. As the lowest-income and rural population often lack effective access to the internet, several governments set up centers offering free internet access. (Inter Press Service)

Globalization and Inequality: The Economist Gets It Wrong (September 11, 2003)

OpenDemocracy critically reviews an Economist article on worldwide inequality. It accuses the magazine of using the work of economist Stanley Fischer in a misleading way, to promote the idea that "more globalization" will decrease poverty in the world.

South Africa: Whose Land? (September 2003)

The new South African government replaced the policies of apartheid with policies based on "deracialized unfairness," says Le Monde diplomatique. Instead of redistributing land to those who suffered during apartheid, the government modernized South African agriculture "with the help of market forces," still leaving many poor excluded from land and wealth.

Inequality. Now You See It, Now You Don't (September 2003)

This article from the IMF's monthly journal Finance & Development defines and analyzes cross-country inequality, within-country inequality, and global inequality, asking "how much should we worry about inequality?"

Inequality and Inadequate Policies: A Looming Crisis in Guatemala (August 13, 2003)

In Guatemala, 10 percent of the population accounts for half of the national income. As the governing alliance of landowners and military leaders seeks to uphold the system of strong social and economic exclusion, the elimination of the country's extreme inequalities seems unlikely. (IDEAs)

Are Ordinary People in the US to Blame for World Poverty? (August 8, 2003)

Eating less or refusing to buy brand name products won't fight hunger or save poor citizens across the globe. US policies and policy makers that create structural changes to corporate privileges and food production will get at the roots of global inequality. (Socialist Worker)

Paradox of Abundance, Need for Reform (August 5, 2003)

UNCTAD estimates that, if current trends continue, Brazil will replace the US as the world's leading food producer in a decade. Yet, landless Brazilian peasants call for agrarian reform to redistribute land and thus decrease poverty and hunger. (Inter Press Service)

Obese People Are Taking Their Bias Claims to Court (August 4, 2003)

While hunger plagues millions in Africa, 27% of US citizens are obese and struggle with problems surrounding their weight, including job discrimination. (New York Times)

The Growing Gap Between Rich and Poor (August 1, 2003)

"The 13,000 richest families in the US now have almost as much income as the 20 million poorest." This wealth gap shows whom benefits from global military operations linked to free market ideology. (Socialist Worker)

Agricultural Trade Liberalization and Brazil's Rural Poor: Consolidating Inequality (August 2003)

Brazil started to liberalize its agriculture in the 1980s with the first structural adjustment programs, and continued this path with its integration into Mercosur and the WTO. Food First argues that liberalization could not redress the country's infamous income inequality – on the contrary, it consolidated it.

A Rich Nation, a Poor Continent (July 9, 2003)

The 400 richest US citizens have a combined income of $69 billion, which is more than the total income of the 166 million people living in four of the countries that President Bush is visiting: Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and Botswana. (New York Times)

The Lost Decade (July 9, 2003)

According to the 2003 Human Development Report, overall human development fell in 21 countries during the 1990s. By contrast, only four countries suffered falling human development in the 1980s. Neo-liberal policies and the spread of AIDS caused increasing disparity in wealth and living standards. (Guardian)

Inequality and Corporate Power (June 2003)

Powerful US corporations intensively lobby for legislation that shifts wealth to a small sector of the population. The result is a less democratic, class-based society with unequal life opportunities. (Multinational Monitor)

Economic Justice For All (May 23, 2003)

The US government spends more than four-hundred billion dollars a year on its military, and 40 million Americans are without health insurance. US citizens are responsible for urging Congress to end exorbitant military expenditures and to focus on the war against poverty. (CommonDreams)

Poor but Pedicured (May 6, 2003)

Generalizations about standards of living in World Bank reports leads to public misconceptions about the global level of poverty. The economic term "purchasing power" ought to take into account the low costs of service in developing countries. (Guardian)

Outrageous CEO Pay Still a Sore Point (April 16, 2003)

Last year's corporate scandals may have humbled a few executives who knowingly enriched themselves at the expense of investors, but this Washington Post article declares, "They just don't get it." Increasingly bloated compensation packages for top executives reveal that something is still awry in the world of corporate ethics.

Casualties at Home (March 27, 2003)

In the midst of an expensive and dangerous war on Iraq, the Bush administration is quietly proposing the largest budget cuts in history on food stamps, child nutrition programs, health care for the poor, and even veterans' benefits. The "very idea of a humane and responsive government" is under attack, writes Bob Herbert of the New York Times.

Hungry in a Wealthy Nation (March 26, 2003)

As the Bush administration spends billions of dollars to invade Iraq, 12 million children in the United States do not have enough to eat. Anuradha Mittal of the California-based Institute for Food and Development Policy argues that the US government fails to guarantee the fundamental human rights of food, shelter, and education for its own people. (Inter Press Service)

Chinese Poor Face Mass Move (March 9, 2003)

China has announced a massive plan to move more than seven million people out of the country's most poverty-stricken regions. This decision reveals China's serious rural poverty problem, despite 10 years of rapid economic growth. (BBC)

Panama's Poor Look Left for Their Own Lula (March 7, 2003)

As Panama's economy suffers its worst downturn in the last decade, many Panamanians are disillusioned. Despite repeated promises, successive governments have failed to reduce the nation's huge gap between rich and poor. (Reuters)

Brazil Peasants End Land Truce (March 7, 2003)

New Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is likely to face a wave of land seizures and protests in the coming months from the Landless Movement, a group hoping for mass land ownership reform in the country. President Lula has failed to take any concrete action to carry out his land reform pledges since taking up office in January. (BBC)

Down and Out in America (February 5, 2003)

A potential war on Iraq would cost billions, and the US poor would pay the price. Already, the Bush administration has cut social services in the name of tax breaks and "security," resulting in increased poverty, higher unemployment, larger class sizes, and wider inequality. (Guardian)

America is a Class Act (January 27, 2003)

The myth of upward social mobility lies at the heart of the US debate on affirmative action, this Guardian article argues. In fact, the gap between rich and poor in the US is getting wider, no doubt due in part to the same "affirmative action" of class and family connections that boosted Bush into the presidency.

The District of Color Bar (January 21, 2003)

While Washington's political elite pontificate on the need for democracy and human rights abroad, a quick glance at the city's sharply segregated neighborhoods reveals deep seated inequality, violence, and a lack of official representation. (Guardian)

Mean Britain (January 17, 2003)

Britain's income inequality is the highest in Europe and its minimum wage the lowest. This Guardian article argues that an economic and social system that does not provide working citizens with enough income to afford basic necessities is fundamentally flawed.

Just Don't Call It "Class Warfare": Invisible Neighborhoods, Irrelevant People from Chicago to Baghdad (January 16, 2003)

As the Bush administration promotes a new "economic stimulus" plan that would put money back into the hands of the obscenely wealthy, it is also stiffening up "welfare to work" requirements, cutting back on social services, and pursuing an extravagantly expensive campaign against Iraq. This ZNet article calls it by its name: a war on the poor.

Report Urges New Strategy to Aid Europe's Poverty-Stricken Roma (January 16, 2003)

A United Nations Development Programme report shows that programs to lift minority Roma communities in Eastern Europe out of poverty have failed miserably. One in six Roma people in the region are "constantly starving," and only a third of Roma children attend primary school.

Thousands of US Military Families Live in Poverty (January 15, 2003)

As the US gears up for a multi-billion dollar war on Iraq, many soldiers and their families are barely scraping by. According to a recent US Defense Department survey, nearly half of lower-rank soldiers face "substantial financial difficulties," and many require food assistance. (Voice of America)

Vietnamese Earn More but Rich-Poor Gap Widens (January 14, 2003)

As economic growth surges in Vietnam, some areas of the country, particularly ethnic minority regions, are falling behind. The United Nations Development Programme now identifies income inequality as a major problem for the formerly socialist country. (Reuters)

The Bush Plan: A Global-Scale Disappointment (January 10, 2003)

This author argues that President Bush's economic plan not only disproportionately benefits the US rich, but also reflects an unwise approach to the global economy. Instead, promoting fair trade with the developing world, and investment in poor countries' social development, would generate wealth both in the US and around the world. (Asia Times)

2002

The Super Rich Are Out of Sight (December 27, 2002)

The most recent US census shows that income inequality in the US has widened, but the census doesn't even count the thousands of people making over one million dollars a year into its figures. Census officials claim their computers can't handle such large numbers. (CommonDreams)

Uprooted by Poverty (December 18, 2002)

The large numbers of "economic refugees" and migrant workers who flee crippling and degrading poverty are symptomatic of worsening global inequality. This article argues that rich nations, rather than building fortresses to keep migrants out, should address the root systemic causes of inequality and poverty. (ATTAC)

Argentina's New Social Protagonists (December 2002)

In Argentina, homeless people are organizing a new, powerful social network to confront poverty and unemployment. The "piquetero" movement (directly translated as "picketers") fights for social justice by setting up entire neighborhoods with gardens and community soup kitchens, and protesting with roadblocks and bonfires. (World Press Review/Clarin)

The Social Wars (November 2002)

With poverty on the rise and inequality at "outrageous" proportions, many cities around the world have witnessed a sharp increase in robbery and violent crimes that arguably constitute a "social war." This article argues, "The great lesson of the history of humanity is that in the long term people will always revolt against worsening inequality." (Le Monde Diplomatique)

Social Panorama of Latin America, 2001-2002

If Latin America's economy progresses as predicted, poverty will rise by 40 percent over the next year. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean's annual report argues that income distribution, among the most unequal in the world, represents a crucial problem in the fight against poverty in Latin America.

US in Denial as Poverty Rises (November 2, 2002)

In New Haven, Connecticut, elite and privileged students walk by desperately poor and homeless people on their way to class. The city reflects a sharp contrast between the obscene wealth and growing poverty in the United States, now exacerbated by the AIDS crisis. (Guardian)

Providing Insight Into Life's Injustices (October 31, 2002)

Buddhist teachings of compassion and non-exploitation ought to make the Thai government more serious about pro-poor development policies, reflects the assistant editor of the Bangkok Post. Instead, "the story of Thailand's economic growth is one of ruthless exploitation of rural people's resources to feed the urban rich."

Upstairs/Downstairs: Disturbing Disparities in Wealth and Privilege (October 21, 2002)

The latest United States Census numbers show that US poverty increased for the first time in eight years. Still, top CEOs, who continue to rake in millions, seem to be thinking "Let them eat cake." (Tom Paine)

Middle-Class Barely Weathering the Storm (October 1, 2002)

Experts warn that the economic collapse in Argentina, which pushed many of the middle class into poverty, may result in an irreversible gap between rich and poor. (Inter Press Service)

Poverty is Worsening in African LDCs (September, 2002)

A UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report shows that the proportion of people in Africa's least developed countries living below $2 per day increased between the 1960s and 1990s. UNCTAD argues that dependence on low value-added commodities and trade liberalization have worsened poverty in those regions. (Africa Recovery)

Number of People Living in Poverty Increases in US (September 25, 2002)

The United States Census Bureau reports that US poverty increased "significantly" last year, and income inequality continued to grow. (New York Times)

Blair Calls for Wealth Redistribution (September 18, 2002)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that Britain must "redistribute power, wealth and opportunity" to combat poverty. His speech breaks with the past ten years of neoliberal social and economic policy favoring wealth "creation" rather than "redistribution." (Guardian)

Signs Point to Greater Rich-Poor Wage Gap (September 3, 2002)

A report from the Economic Policy Institute warns that slower wage growth, fewer job prospects, and the refusal of Congress to raise the minimum wage will exacerbate income inequality in the United States. (Christian Science Monitor)

Is Inequality Decreasing? (July/August 2002)

David Dollar and Aart Kraay claimed in a Foreign Affairs article that globalization reduced economic inequality. In the journal's July/August issue James Galbraith, Joe Pitts, and Andrew Wells-Dang criticize Dollar and Kraay for using convenient cases, dubious data, and faulting government far more than globalization.

World Inequality (June 18, 2002)

In light of the upcoming G8 Summit in Canada BBC News Online examines the growing gap between rich and poor. Poverty levels have dropped in East Asia but they continue to rise in Africa, South Asia, and Eastern Europe.

The Least Developed Countries Report 2002 (June 18, 2002)

In a new report the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development concludes that poverty hinders economic growth by limiting the domestic resources available for private investment and public goods. International economic relationships could alleviate poverty but in practice they reinforce it.

That Silly Inequality Debate (May 2002)

Addressing the debate surrounding globalizations effect on global inequality, the author cites sources that draw attention to how conclusions about "global inequality depend on how analysts measure inequality and the question they wish to ask." (Brookings Institution)

Oxfam's Response to Walden Bello's Article on Make Trade Fair (May 3, 2002)

In this note, Oxfam defends its position that international trade rules must be made fair against Bello's charge that the report promotes neo-liberal, export-led growth in its focus on greater market access for developing countries. (Oxfam)

Genetic Gains Unlikely to Help World's Poor, Report Predicts (May 1, 2002)

As genetic researchers develop vaccines to treat major diseases, the World Health Organization fears people in poor countries, who constitute the majority of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis victims, will not have access to new medical treatments. (Washington Post)

Can We Discern the Effect of Globalization on Income Distribution? (April 2002)

World Bank researcher Branko Milanovic finds that trade liberalization and openness benefit the rich, not the poor, in the world's most impoverished countries. His research challenges much of traditional World Bank policy. (World Bank, Research Department)

Globalization and Development (April, 2002)

This Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/CEPAL) report looks at the transformative social and economic effects of globalization in the ECLAC/CEPAL region. The report includes an excellent analysis of income inequality and "fundamental asymmetries of the global order," and advocates a rights-based social agenda for the region.

What's Wrong With the Oxfam Trade Campaign (April 26, 2002)

While renewing his respect for Oxfam, Walden Bello disagrees with the focus of its recent report that promotes developing countries' access to northern markets. Instead, Bello believes the WTO's haphazard and unfair liberalization policies constitute the root of global trade problems. (Focus on the Global South)

Foreign Direct Investment: Who Gains? (April 2002)

The Overseas Development Institute analyses the effects of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on wages in developing countries. Higher wages paid by foreign firms tend to benefit skilled workers more than the less-skilled and thereby perpetuate wage inequality. (Overseas Development Institute)

Wide Disparities Persist in Nepal Despite Steady Growth (February 27, 2002)

Nepal, one of the world's poorest nations, is facing tough challenges from a growing insurgency and increasing inequality, despite poverty reduction efforts. Discrimination, lack of accountability and harvests fraught with uncertainty are among the chief challenges. (UNDP)

Top 1% Earn As Much As the Poorest 57% (January 18, 2002)

A report by senior World Bank economist Branko Milanovic shows a substantial increase in global inequality. According to the report, four fifths of the world's population now live below the poverty line. (Guardian)

Calls for World Leaders to Close Global Equality Gap (January 11, 2002)

WorldWatch Institute reports on environmental pressure and growing disparities between rich and poor as threats to global stability. The report calls for global action in fighting inequality and suggests some "sustainability goals" for the Johannesburg Development Summit.

The Root Cause of the Argentinean Crisis (January 2, 2002)

Inequality is the root cause for the Argentinean crisis, afflicting almost all of Latin America. The region shows the most unequal distribution of income in the world. Instead of attacking the causes, shortsighted US policies have been focused on symptoms. (Pacific News Service)

Rigged Rules and Double Standards (2002)

In a controversial new report, Oxfam argues that free trade's potential to reduce poverty is not realized because the rules governing international trade have been "rigged" in favor of the rich. Oxfam suggests institutional and policy reforms that would allow the benefits of trade to be shared more equally.

2001

Disparities of Wealth Are Seen as Fuel for Terrorism (December 20, 2001)

The International Herald Tribune conducted a worldwide poll suggesting that globalization and US lack of understanding of international problems serve as the breeding ground for terrorism.

Market Economy Failed to Generate Jobs (December 10, 2001)

A UN agency (ECLAC) reports on failures of market-oriented economic models in Latin America during the 1990s. Instead of generating jobs, the models contributed to low quality jobs and increases in inequality. (Inter Press Service)

The War We Need (November 29, 2001)

Before September 11, 1.5 million or one out of every five New Yorker were depending on soup kitchens and food relief. Since then, while the numbers are increasing and donations are dropping, the US administration spends $1 billion a month on the War on Terrorism. (WorkingforChange)

Income Disparity vs. Growth (November 25, 2001)

The Japan Times comments on a report from World Institute for Development Economics Research on income inequality. The study identifies traditional causes, gives suggestions for remedies, and shows how poverty reduction can be hampered by income inequality, regardless of economic growth.

We're Tricking The Poorer Nations Out Of Their Money (November 4, 2001)

According to the Sunday Times, free trade does not worsen poverty. The problem lies in the way developed countries practice free trade. Trade barriers in these countries cost the developing world about $100 billion a year, twice as much as they receive in aid.

Political Consequences of the New Inequality (September 2001)

In light of the shifting global patterns of equality and inequality, Craig Murphy proposes new agendas for teaching and research. He argues that because popular media present a "decreasingly coherent picture" it has become increasingly important for teachers to address these issues properly. (International Studies Quarterly)

British Aid Agencies Fear Palestinian Territories are on the Brink of No Return (July 24, 2001)

Oxfam, Christian Aid, and Save the Children warned that escalating violence, insecurity and poverty in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are exacerbating the extreme economic hardship faced by the majority of Palestinians, and are deepening the levels of frustration and insecurity. (Oxfam)

Liberating the Poor: Incorporating the Missing Voices (June 2001)

While the polarization of wealth expands to its widest, this paper reminds that poverty is not about impersonal numbers and percentages, but about real people and communities. (Jesuits for Debt Relief and Development)

The Impact of Adjustment-Related Social Funds on Income Distribution and Poverty (May, 2001)

This discussion paper assesses the impact of the over seventy Social Funds which Bretton Woods Institutions introduced to offset the greater poverty deteriorated by the SAPs (Structural Adjustment Program). (WIDER)

In Downturn, Some Expensive Belts Are Tightened a Notch (April 1, 2001)

The rich will have to tighten their belt by drinking cheaper champagne. But scholars say the slowdown of the economy will not threaten their wealth or life style very much.(New York Times)

2000

The Invisible Poor (March 19, 2000)

An in depth article from the New York Times Magazine discussing the way in which despite unprecedented economic growth, there is an increasing population of impoverished Americans, that are being ignored.

On a New Map, the Income Gap Grows (September 17, 2000)

Another study (using data from the Internal Revenue Service) points out the obvious: since 1992 the wealthy have profited disproportionately from the booming economy, leaving middle-income families with virtually no benefit at all. (New York Times)

The Trouble With Wealth (September 8, 2000)

Current economic growth in India is exacerbating material inequality between the different states. But it also threatens national solidarity: richer regions resist redistributive efforts by the federal government. (Far Eastern Economic Review)

Rich-Poor Gap as Wide as Ever in Latin America (September 5, 2000)

While the Latin American economies recovered some of the ground lost in the 1980s, terrible inequalities persist. These are mostly due to misguided domestic policies that withhold education and tolerate corruption, the Times of India reports.

Inequality Continues to Widen (September 3, 2000)

A newly published study says that American middle-income families only profited slightly from the economic propserity of the 90's. These families had to work harder just to keep up, and their accumulating debt sets off any improvement in their economic position. (Inter Press Service)

Boom Years See Growing Inequality (August 25, 2000)

While the US economy is enjoying an unprecedented boom right now, levels of inequality rise on a number of fronts including income and health care, a report notes. This "economic apartheid" is part of a larger debate going on about the social responsibility and accountability of Big Business. (Inter Press Service)

For Cruise Ship Workers, Voyages Are No Vacations (May 30, 2000)

Lured by earning higher income than at home, workers from developing nations are enduring extreme low pay and Spartan conditions to work as cruise ship workers, while ship owners say the jobs provide opportunities to the poor. (Los Angeles Times)

Oxfam Report Reveals Brutal Inequality of Aid (May 17, 2000)

"The aid lottery is one of the most brutal inequalities in the world," said the report's author, Oxfam policy adviser Nicola Reindorp. (Oxfam GB News Releases)

UNDP Report 2000 Launched: Minister Stresses Holistic Approach Towards Global Poverty (May 17, 2000)

The Pakistanian minister points out that the current aid programmes are largely insufficient to alleviate poverty. In Pakistan, decentralization of poverty-reduction projects are currently under way to include more voices of the disadvantaged. (Business Recorder)

Poverty Snaring Families Once Thought Immune (April 20, 2000)

Studies reveal an increase in poverty in New York, despite the booming economy. (New York Times)

Annan Urges High-Tech Aid for Poor Countries (April 4, 2000)

Secretary Genertal Kofi Annan proposes that the UN take the lead in bringing advanced information technologies to poor nations, as a means of aiding them in the development process. (New York Times)

Globalisation: The Plight Of Billions Stressed (March 30, 2000)

Article from Business Day (Johannesburg) discusses a report released by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions: " Globalising Social Justice - Trade Unionism in the 21st Century" which emphasizes the need to address widening inequalities as part of a broader strategy by unions in dealing with the effects of globalisation.

Income Inequality / Income Disparity (March 18, 2000)

The table displays the income inequality of various countries ranked according to the extent of inequality and goes on to talk about inequality between tribes and contemplates discouraging too large income inequalities.

More African Exports Compete In Global Market (March 7, 2000)

According to the New Trade Performance Index published by the Geneva-based International Trade Centre, many African countries have become highly competitive in the global market. (Panafrican News Agency)

World Bank Chief Urges Nations to Embrace IT (March 8, 2000)

James Wolfensohn warns that countries that do not embrace information technology will fall back in their development programmes, since knowledge properly transferred from developed to developing countries presents the "greatest opportunity" for people in their fight against poverty. (Kuala Lumpur Star)

Huge Trade Imbalance Between Africa and the US Must Be Redressed (February 20, 2000)

Addressing the National Summit on Africa in Washington DC, president Moi said that in order to join the global economy, Africa could no longer be marginalized in its share of global trade. (Nation Nairobi)

Global Trade Alone Will Not End World Hunger (February 18, 2000)

"Economic growth based mainly on exports is not sufficient for broad-based development." An article by the director of the UN Food and Agriculture association arguing that in order to benefit the greatest number of people, alleviate widening income gaps and end hunger, economic development strategy must emphasize agricultural production and productivity. (International Herald Tribune)

Bigger Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend (February 13, 2000)

Diamond sales are booming among the new-rich brokers, bankers and e-commerce magnates. But many diamonds come from war-torn African countries. As a report by Global Witness reminds us, the diamond trade has played a major role in funding conflict in Angola, contributing to an estimated 300,000 deaths between 1992 and 1994. (Associated Press)

UN Chief Blames Rich Nations for Failure of Trade Talks (February 12, 2000)

Secretary General Kofi Annan calls for a 'Global New Deal' to remedy the imbalances between rich and poor countries. By loosening trade barriers by industrialized countries for a freer flow of goods, jobs and capital, poor countries would also be able to benefit from globalization.(Agence France-Presse)

I Am Lawyer, Hear Me Whine (February 6, 2000)

Silicon Valley and many Bay Area law firms have instituted a remarkable 40% pay raise in the salaries of first-year lawyers and associates. Prestigious firms around the nation are feeling the pressure as associates in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC demand similar treatment. (New York Times)

The Great Divide in the Global Village (January/February 2001, 2001)

Economic policies are resulting in a growing income gap between rich and poor countries. When will the wealthy nations face reality and abandon the notion that their own particular strategies are the best for all countries? (Foreign Affairs)

How Wide is the Nation's Income Gap? (January 30, 2000)

An article from the Philadelphia Inquirer discussing a study, "Pulling Apart", conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute to determine who is benefiting from the current economic prosperity in America and who is being left behind.

Is the Web Widening the Poverty Gap? (January 29, 2000)

This piece from the BBC News Service suggests that the Internet's potential as a voice for the disempowered is unlikely to be realized until inequalities of access to infrastructure and knowledge are overcome.

America's Stinginess is a Problem, Carter says (January 20, 2000)

Former US President Carter addresses a forum organized by the Progress Project, in Seattle Washington. The project was created to get people talking about economic, technological, environmental and social progress. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

In China, No Workers' Paradise (January 20, 2000)

Chinese workers rights are increasingly "sacrificed to the altar of economic development", some of the factories with the worst working conditions are those contracted by foreign multinational corporations. (Washington Post)

Further Opening of Borders, Poverty Reduction Key Topics at Mekong Ministers' Meeting (January 11, 2000)

A report from the Asian Development Bank discusses how the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program will discuss further cross border trade liberalization as well as poverty reduction strategies.

Concept of Poverty Undergoes Radical Shift (January 7, 2000)

An International Herald Tribune article discusses the contrasting implications of globalization on wealth distribution and the question of whether "economic growth fosters democracy or political reform brings economic growth".

Japan Slowly Embraces Greater Income Inequality Over Social Harmony (January 4, 2000)

A New York Times article about Japan's widening income disparity which is particularly pronounced within its elderly population.

Globalizing Responsibility (January 4, 2000)

Nelson Mandela, in an inspiring speech at the turn of the century, calls for a global effort to address the current disparity of wealth and continued poverty which exists throughout both developing and developed countries. (Boston Globe)

Raising the World's Standard of Living (January 3, 2000)

Op-ed from the Christian Science Monitor discusses the tremendous increase in the world's income gap in the 90's and the major challenges facing world leaders and policymakers in the 21st century "to ensure that human security concerns are placed at the center of the globalization debate."

1999

The Rich Can Afford to Share the Wealth (December 29, 1999)

An article from the San Jose Mercury News discussing the increased economic disparity between the wealthy and the poor in America, despite an unprecedented period of economic growth.

Hey, What About Us? (December 27, 1999)

A discussion about whether or not the majority of Americans are benefiting from the US's current economic boom. (Business Week)

New Millennium: Two Futures (December 20, 1999)

An essay discussing the future direction of the global economy and the need to address the growing disparity in wealth between rich and poor. (Oxfam)

High-Income Poverty (December 17, 1999)

An in depth article from Mother Jones discussing the possible inaccuracy of the US government's definition of "poor".

Africa "Weighed Down by Debt" (December 13, 1999)

Democratic Party leader, Richard Gephardt, underlines that large debts are hindering Africa's attempts at economic development. (Business Day, Johannesburg)

Thailand: Pays Heavy Price For Economic Gain (December 7, 1999)

"Thailand has paid a significant price for its economic success over the past three decades, according to the first UN Development Report for Thailand." (UN Wire)

An Outline to Reduce the Continuing Poverty Throughout Asia (November 10, 1999)

"Poverty is more than a matter of income deficiency and involves access to essential services and opportunities to which everyone is entitled as well as intangibles such as having a say and participating in decisions which affect the life of the poor." (International Herald Tribune)

Economic System Wreaks 'Hateful' Havoc on Poor (October 23, 1999)

Expresses that US social and economic policies are systematic hate crimes, just as deplorable as the individual "hate crimes" frequently portrayed in the mainstream media. (Religion News Service/ Seattle Post-Intelligencer/ Common Dreams News Center)

True World Income Distribution, 1988 and 1993: First Calculation Based on Household Surveys (October 1999)

This World Bank report was the first to calculate "world distribution for individuals based entirely on household survey data from 91 countries, and adjusting for differences in purchasing power parity between countries." The author shows that inequality, measured by the Gini index, has in fact increased.

Two Articles About Personal Assistants to the Mega-Rich (October 1999)

New York Times articles, "Molding Loyal Pamperers for the Newly Rich" and "Star-Tenders Wanted: Big Pay, Little Ego," depict the extremes of wealth through profiles of personal assistants whose salaries can reach $120,000 per year.

World's Info Gap Widening (October 12, 1999)

A concern about the widening gap between the information rich and the information poor, offered by Wu Jichuan, minister of Information Industry at the 1999 World Telecommunications Exhibition. (China Daily)

The Official News From the World Poverty Front Is Gloomy (October 4, 1999)

A Boston Globe article concerning about the inceasing gap of world poverty among nations, referring to recent relevant reports. ''Poverty is much more than a matter of income alone."

"Booming" Economy Benefits the Rich, Busts the Rest (September 1999)

Tate Hausman discusses 3 recent studies that highlight the growing disparities in US income distribution. In conclusion, he notes that public awareness of this economic injustice is increasing. (AlterNet)

The New Politics of Inequality (September 22, 1999)

Alan Wolfe, the director of the Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College, discusses US attitudes towards inequality of income and wealth distribution. Published in the New York Times.

The Baker's Slice (September 6, 1999)

A New York Times Op-Ed that discusses a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute that shows that middle-class workers are only slightly better off economically than 10 years ago. Raises important questions about who are the beneficiaries of the US's booming economy.

Is Globalization Bypassing Africa? (September 1999)

An in depth look at whether or not Africa is benefitting from the economic policies promoting globalization. (Africa Recovery)

If We Are Serious, We Do Something About Poverty (August 9, 1999)

International Herald Tribune article written by four country representatives on the state of poverty worldwide, including reccomendations for actions by individual states and international institutions to alleviate the situation.

The Boss's Cut of the Pie (August 4, 1999)

Christian Science Monitor article about new research on corporate ownership.

Cashing in on Security Worries (July 24, 1999)

New York Times that looks at the distribution of wealth in Brazil. Discusses the symbolism of armoring expensive cars in such a polarized society.

Global Economy Creates Divide Rift Grows Between Rich, Poor (July 13, 1999)

Chicago Tribune's brief on the UNDP's 1999 Human Development Report.

Global Inequality Accelerates to the Worst Levels in History (July 12, 1999)

The London Independent highlights the main points of the 1999 Human Development Report.

Gap Between Rich, Poor Said Growing (July 12, 1999)

Common Dreams News Center provides an overview of the 1999 Human Development Report.

Common Ground Elusive as Technology: Have-Nots Meet Haves (July 8, 1999)

New York Times article examining that, while most US citizens have access to the internet, "there are dozens of developing countries where widespread access to the Internet - of any kind - remains a distant possibility".

Retiring AID Head Vents Frustration (June 30, 1999)

Upon stepping down as head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), J. Brian Atwood spoke out about the Republican controlled Congress' neglect of the Global South, worldwide income disparity and US arrears to the UN.

Now for the Bad News about the 'New' Economy (May 28, 1999)

Christian Science Monitor article analyzes a California study that demonstrates the detrimental effects of the expanding technology industry: lower job security, increasing wage gaps, and higher unemployment for people over 50.

Yachts Still Float Higher than Dinghies (May 24, 1999)

US News & World Report addresses whether the booming economy in the United States has widened the gap between rich and poor.

Booming Stock Market and Growing Inequality (May 1999)

Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman cite findings from a report published by United for a Fair Economy.

Statistics on Poverty and Inequality (May 1999)

A variety of comparative statistics on shifts in income distribution in the world and within the U.S.

Poor and Rich - the Facts

Informative data on poverty and inequality from the New Internationalist web site.

A Richer World - But Poorer Too (May 4, 1999)

Economic experts comment on the widening gap between industrial nations and developing nations.

Economic Status: Americans Assess Opportunity, Fairness, and Responsibility (April 1999)

Article analyzes the results of the Gallup Poll Social Audit Survey "Haves and Have-Nots: Perceptions of Fairness and Opportunity". Adds significanlty to the record of perceptions of inequality in the United States.

Still the Land of Opportunity? (Spring 1999)

Isabel Sawhill discusses inequality in the U.S. by examining the notion of opportunity, the level of social and economic mobility, the limits of meritocracy and the measures needed to insure equal opportunity.

U.S. Wage Gap Widens (April 13, 1999) United for a Fair Economy's

"Responsible Wealth" campaign to address bloated CEO earnings.

The Poor Get Poorer, The Rich Get SUVs (April 11, 1999)

Article from the San Francisco Examiner which juxtaposes quotes from newspapers with quotes from "Shifting Fortunes: The Perils of the Growing American Wealth Gap," published by United for a Fair Economy.

Against Inequality: The Stakeholder Society (April 1, 1999)

Article from Atlantic Monthly Magazine reviews remedies for growing inequality in the United States, including the guarantee of $80,000 to every U.S. citizen at his or her twenty-first birthday.

Hunger in the Third World (March 1999)

Explains that, due to an "irrational system of distribution", almost half of the Third World's population is undernourished, although there is currently sufficient food produced to meet the basic needs of everyone.

1998

Consumption Gap Is Widening, Says UN Report (September 9, 1998)

The new 'Human Development Report' on the growing disparities between consumption in the North and the South.

Will Billionaires Fight Inequality? (July 27, 1998)

Ralph Nader, the leading consumer activist in the U.S., discloses appalling facts on wealth disparity in the U.S. and the world in this provocative public letter to billionaire Bill Gates.

If Poverty is the Question (April 14, 1997)

The late US Senator Paul Wellstone wrote in 1997 before he launched his national "poverty tour" that he intended to start a "national conversation" about the unacceptable level inequality and poverty in the United States. Paul Wellstone believed that as a country, "We can do better" for poor people. (The Nation)

Getting and Spending

Some disturbing statistics from the UNDP's 1998 Human Development Report contrasting lifestyles in the North and South.

1997 and Earlier

Women as Consumers and Producers in the World Market (Fall, 1995)

Analysis of how globilization exacerbates the exploitation women in developing nations. Although this article was written in 1995, it still holds tremendous insight and current relevance.

General Trends and Statistics on Economic Inequality

An excerpt from UNDP's Human Development Report 1997.

Global Distribution of Income and Economic Activity

Tables showing the increase in inequality of income and economic activity distribution on a global level over the past four decades.

Economic Insecurity

A chapter from an IDRC publication written by Jorge Nef that outlines the progression of the changing world economic environment through recent decades and the accompanying increase in economic inequality, 1995.

"Income distribution key to economic growth: UNDP"

This page includes a brief article from the publication Development Update, a speech given by UNDP Administrator Mr. James Gustave Speth, and excerpts from the 1996 Human Development Report that demonstrate the importance assigned to equality of income in the report.