World Inequality Report 2018

The World Inequality Report 2018, brought out by the World Inequality Lab at the Paris School of Economics, is based on economic data available in the World Wealth and Income Database. This report has been compiled by notable economists like Thomas Piketty, Facundo Alvaredo, Lucas Chanel, Emmanuel Saez, and Gabriel Zucman. Its objective is to contribute to a more informed public discussion on inequality by bringing the latest and most complete data to all sides in this global, democratic debate. The report highlights the fact that income inequality has increased in nearly all regions of the world in recent decades, but at different speeds, suggesting that institutions and policies matter in shaping inequality. It highlights the fact that since 1980, very large transfers of wealth from public to private sources occurred in all countries, limiting the ability of the governments to tackle inequality. The report suggests that progressive taxes, a global financial register recording the ownership of financial assets, more equal access to education, and well-paying jobs are some of the measures governments could adopt to address current income and wealth inequality levels.