Is wealth inequality bad?

The phrase "wealth inequality" is fast becoming the mantra of the 2016 presidential election. Concerns over wealth inequality are completely appropriate as it has become a major problem over the past 25 years. However, hearing the phrase constantly spoken has left people a little numb to its meaning. read more

Wealth inequality is not a bad thing. Kadir Barcin | Getty Images As a matter of fact, wealth inequality is a healthy and necessary component of a growing economy. read more

1. Economic inequality can give wealthier people an unacceptable degree of control over the lives of others. If wealth is very unevenly distributed in a society, wealthy people often end up in control of many aspects of the lives of poorer citizens: over where and how they can work, what they can buy, and in general what their lives will be like. read more

Among their prescriptions for the rebuilding of middle-class wealth are higher taxes on capital income -- "current preferential rates on capital income compared to wage income are hard to defend in light of the rise of wealth inequality" -- and on inheritances. read more