Understanding economic inequality

This free course, Understanding economic inequality, explores the causes of economic inequality in modern times and its consequences for success for the economy. The course will encourage you to reflect on your personal experiences of inequality before looking at how the issue is approached in economics. You will study some of the different dimensions of economic inequality, and learn about the main debates on its role in achieving economic success. You will also have the opportunity to put yourself in the shoes of a prime minister and explore what can be done to make economies less unequal.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Introducing inequality
• 1 Introducing inequality
• 2 Everyday inequality
• 2 Everyday inequality
• 3 Inequality in economics
• 3 Inequality in economics
• 3.1 Income for whom?
• 3.2 Sources of income
• 3.3 Measuring income inequality
• 3.3.1 What would an equal distribution of income look like?
• 3.4 Inequality between countries
• 4 What makes us unequal?
• 4 What makes us unequal?
• 4.1 Differences between individuals or households
• 4.2 Factors affecting the level and distribution of wages
• 4.2.1 How income is shared between labour and capital
• 5 Why inequality matters
• 5 Why inequality matters
• 5.1 Economic growth and inequality
• 5.2 Inequality and economic success
• 6 What can be done about income inequality?
• 6 What can be done about income inequality?
• 6.1 Redistribution of incomes through the taxation and benefit system
• 6.2 Provision of goods such as education and healthcare
• 6.3 The structure of original incomes
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements