ABSTRACT
Economic inequality has recently gained considerable academic attention. However, two important aspects of inequality have not been discussed systematically: its multidimensional nature and the question of what can be done to reverse it. This book offers insights from scholars representing the Global Labour University, which operates in Brazil, Germany, India, South Africa and the US. They analyse the various drivers of inequality, assess policy responses, and discuss counterstrategies.
The main findings of this book are that rising levels of inequality cannot be addressed only with the standard policies responses, namely education, redistribution and ‘green growth’. In addition, the way markets currently function needs to be corrected. The chapters in this volume focus on specific fields of contemporary capitalism where important drivers of inequality are located, for example, the labour market; the financial system; the tax system; multi-national corporations; and gender relations. Other chapters discuss in detail where political opportunities for change lie. They critically assess existing countermeasures; the idea of a ‘green economy’ and its implications for inequality; and existing campaigns by trade unions and new social movements against inequality. In line with the global nature of the problem, this book contains case studies on countries both from the north and south with considerable economic and political weight.
This book provides academics, political practitioners and civil society activists with a range of ideas on how to drive back inequality. It will be of interest to those who study political economy, development economy and labour economics.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|46 pages
The challenge of inequality
part II|52 pages
Drivers of inequality
chapter 6|13 pages
The impact of the financial sector on inequality
chapter 7|18 pages
Multinational corporations and economic inequality in the Global South
part III|69 pages
Country case studies
chapter 9|18 pages
Financialisation, redistribution and ‘export-led mercantilism'
part IV|45 pages
Critiques of conventional political responses
part V|44 pages
Merits and limits of alternative political responses
part VI|46 pages
Tools for counter-strategies