Anyone interested in inequality can look up comparative measures at the UNDP
website and the evidence is fairly conclusive.
The Gini Coefficient measures inequality (an index of 0 is total equity, 100
shows total inequality)
The United States has a Gini Coefficient of 41
Netherlands: 31
UK 36
Luxembourg: 30
Germany: 28
Sweden: 25
Inequality has increased over the past two decades, but most rapidly in
those countries that have adopted neoliberal politics most enthusiastically.
All of the countries with a gini coefficient above 40 are in the global
south, except the US and Singapore.
Drilling down further, the poorest decile have a smaller share of income &
consumption in the US than in ANY other developed country (though the UK
comes closer) and the richest decile a larger one (excepting Singapore and
Hong Kong).
The UNDP Human Development Reports website is at
http://hdr.undp.org/default.cfm
Adam Tickell
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