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The Global Inequality Boomerang

Author

Listed:
  • Kanbur, Ravi
  • Ortiz-Juarez, Eduardo
  • Sumner, Andy

Abstract

In this paper we argue that the decline in global inequality over the last decades has spurred a ‘sunshine’ narrative of falling global inequality that has been rather oversold, in the sense, we argue, it is likely to be temporary. We argue the decline in global inequality will reverse due to changes in the between-country component. We find there is a potentially startling global inequality ‘boomerang’, possibly in the mid-to-late 2020s, which would have happened even if there were no pandemic, and that the pandemic is likely to bring forward the global inequality boomerang.

Suggested Citation

  • Kanbur, Ravi & Ortiz-Juarez, Eduardo & Sumner, Andy, "undated". "The Global Inequality Boomerang," Applied Economics and Policy Working Paper Series 319950, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:cuaepw:319950
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.319950
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andy Sumner & Eduardo Ortiz-Juarez & Christopher Hoy, 2022. "Measuring global poverty before and during the pandemic: a political economy of overoptimism," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. repec:wbk:wbpubs:30418 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Marjit, Sugata & Das, Gouranga G. & Kar, Mausumi, 2025. "Immunity-driven comparative advantage and its palliative effect on social health and inequality," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 607-632.
    2. Mahler, Daniel Gerszon & Schoch, Marta & Lakner, Christoph & Nguyen, Minh Cong, 2026. "A parsimonious approach to predicting income distributions," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    3. Mahler, Daniel Gerszon & Schoch, Marta & Lakner, Christoph & Nguyen, Minh Cong, 2025. "Predicting Income Distributions from Almost Nothing," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11034, The World Bank.
    4. Ranaldi, Marco, 2021. "Global Distributions of Capital and Labor Incomes: Capitalization of the Global Middle Class," SocArXiv 3g59r, Center for Open Science.
    5. Garcia Rojas, Diana Carolina & Yonzan, Nishant & Lakner, Christoph, 2025. "Global Inequality and Economic Growth : The Three Decades before Covid-19 and Three Decades After," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11093, The World Bank.
    6. repec:ehl:lserod:117901 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Gradín, Carlos, 2024. "Revisiting the trends in global inequality," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    8. van der Ploeg, Frederick & Emmerling, Johannes & Groom, Ben, 2023. "The social cost of carbon with intragenerational inequality and economic uncertainty," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 117898, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. Andy Sumner, 2024. "Unity in Diversity? Reflections on Development Studies in the Mid-2020s," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(5), pages 1280-1298, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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