The great divide inequalites and 99 %

The great divide

UK income inequality is among the highest in the developed world and evidence shows that this is bad for almost everyone. 

Over the past 30 years, income inequality in the UK has grown at an alarming rate. 

This infographic shows the extent of this inequality, and how most people would be better off today if we lived in a more equal society.  Please use the options to the right to share this with others. 

The Equality Trust works to reduce income inequality in order to improve the quality of life in the UK.

Nothing new. In December 2011, it was written 

 how do different countries compare?

Inequality across the world is rising fast, says a new report out from the OECD which shows it getting worse.

Simon Garfield describes his favorite map of London. (from =50 to 01:24)

Simon Garfield explores the weird and wonderful world of cartography

Visual du Jour on inequalities at www.globalsociology.com
Class warfare Winners and Losers
This situation was accomplished through policy over decades, Structure / History / Power, people, never forget the SHiP!

Inequality Is a Choice  By JOSEPH E. STIGLITZ (NYTimes)

Of the advanced economies, America has some of the worst disparities in incomes and opportunities, with devastating macroeconomic consequences. The gross domestic product of the United States has more than quadrupled in the last 40 years and nearly doubled in the last 25, but as is now well known, the benefits have gone to the top — and increasingly to the very, very top.

• Last year, the top 1 percent of Americans took home 22 percent of the nation’s income; 
• the top 0.1 percent, 11 percent. 
• Ninety-five percent of all income gains since 2009 have gone to the top 1 percent. 

Recently released census figures show that median income in America hasn’t budged in almost a quarter-century. The typical American man makes less than he did 45 years ago (after adjusting for inflation); men who graduated from high school but don’t have four-year college degrees make almost 40 percent less than they did four decades ago.

American inequality began its upswing 30 years ago, along with tax decreases for the rich and the easing of regulations on the financial sector. That’s no coincidence. It has worsened as we have under-invested in our infrastructure, education and health care systems, and social safety nets. Rising inequality reinforces itself by corroding our political system and our democratic governance.

And Europe seems all too eager to follow America’s bad example.