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Global headwinds to Kuznets' low-inequality transformation?: Plutocrats, populism, and more

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  • Nancy Birdsall

Abstract

Kuznets predicts an economy's return to low inequality once structural transformation has peaked. I explore some headwinds to falling inequality in developing countries given their thorough engagement in the globalized market Kuznets could not have foreseen. Headwinds include plutocrats' abuse of open capital markets to elude taxation, populism in rich countries that prevents migration of labour from less to more productive economies, and climate damage.

Suggested Citation

  • Nancy Birdsall, 2025. "Global headwinds to Kuznets' low-inequality transformation?: Plutocrats, populism, and more," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2025-41, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2025-41
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson, 2001. "The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1369-1401, December.
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