We are used to thinking about inequality within countries--about rich Americans
versus poor Americans, for instance. But what about inequality between all citiz
ens of the world? Worlds Apart addresses just how to measure global inequality a
mong individuals, and shows that inequality is shaped by complex forces often wo
rking in different directions. Branko Milanovic, a top World Bank economist, ana
lyzes income distribution worldwide using, for the first time, household survey
data from more than 100 countries.
He evenhandedly explains the main approach
es to the problem, offers a more accurate way of measuring inequality among indi
viduals, and discusses the relevant policies of first-world countries and nongov
ernmental organizations. Inequality has increased between nations over the last
half century (richer countries have generally grown faster than poorer countries
). And yet the two most populous nations, China and India, have also grown fast.
But over the past two decades inequality within countries has increased. As
complex as reconciling these three data trends may be, it is clear: the inequali
ty between the world's individuals is staggering. At the turn of the twenty-firs
t century, the richest 5 percent of people receive one-third of total global inc
ome, as much as the poorest 80 percent.
While a few poor countries are catchi
ng up with the rich world, the differences between the richest and poorest indiv
iduals around the globe are huge and likely growing.
