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The Global Inequality Boomerang

Author

Listed:
  • Kanbur, Ravi

    (Cornell University)

  • Ortiz-Juarez, Eduardo

    (King's College London)

  • Sumner, Andy

    (King's College London)

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, 2022. "The Global Inequality Boomerang," IZA Discussion Papers 15161, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15161
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Frederick van der Ploeg & Johannes Emmerling & Ben Groom, 2023. "The Social Cost of Carbon with Intragenerational Inequality and Economic Uncertainty," Discussion Papers 2301, University of Exeter, Department of Economics.
    6. Gradín, Carlos, 2024. "Revisiting the trends in global inequality," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    7. Ranaldi, Marco, 2021. "Global Distributions of Capital and Labor Incomes: Capitalization of the Global Middle Class," SocArXiv 3g59r, Center for Open Science.

    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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