Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the Arguments
Increasing economic inequality in recent years has triggered an outpouring of analysis and reflection on the causes and consequences of these changes. Several commentators have argued that inequality does not merit all the attention it has been receiving noting that the focus on inequality can diver...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/6/4/147 |
| _version_ | 1819082985834545152 |
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| author | E. Wesley F. Peterson |
| author_facet | E. Wesley F. Peterson |
| author_sort | E. Wesley F. Peterson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Increasing economic inequality in recent years has triggered an outpouring of analysis and reflection on the causes and consequences of these changes. Several commentators have argued that inequality does not merit all the attention it has been receiving noting that the focus on inequality can divert attention from the real problem, which is poverty. This article reviews the arguments for and against this position, highlighting the effects of economic inequality on economic growth and efficiency, politics and democracy, individual behaviors that result in poor health outcomes and social disruption, social cohesion, and environmental degradation. Poverty is, of course, a very important social issue but this review of the arguments about inequality shows that economic inequality in itself is also an important social ill that should be addressed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:25:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6899d17c265344f687ea09705697e232 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:25:22Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-6899d17c265344f687ea09705697e2322022-12-21T18:51:24ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602017-12-016414710.3390/socsci6040147socsci6040147Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the ArgumentsE. Wesley F. Peterson0Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922, USAIncreasing economic inequality in recent years has triggered an outpouring of analysis and reflection on the causes and consequences of these changes. Several commentators have argued that inequality does not merit all the attention it has been receiving noting that the focus on inequality can divert attention from the real problem, which is poverty. This article reviews the arguments for and against this position, highlighting the effects of economic inequality on economic growth and efficiency, politics and democracy, individual behaviors that result in poor health outcomes and social disruption, social cohesion, and environmental degradation. Poverty is, of course, a very important social issue but this review of the arguments about inequality shows that economic inequality in itself is also an important social ill that should be addressed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/6/4/147income inequalitywealth inequalityeconomic growthdemocracyhealthsocial cohesionenvironmental degradation |
| spellingShingle | E. Wesley F. Peterson Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the Arguments Social Sciences income inequality wealth inequality economic growth democracy health social cohesion environmental degradation |
| title | Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the Arguments |
| title_full | Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the Arguments |
| title_fullStr | Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the Arguments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the Arguments |
| title_short | Is Economic Inequality Really a Problem? A Review of the Arguments |
| title_sort | is economic inequality really a problem a review of the arguments |
| topic | income inequality wealth inequality economic growth democracy health social cohesion environmental degradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/6/4/147 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ewesleyfpeterson iseconomicinequalityreallyaproblemareviewofthearguments |