

The low-income neighborhood of Boca la Caja, near the business district in Panama City © REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
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Author
Amina Mohammed
Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, United Nations, and Vice-Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Sustainable Development
Author
Amina Mohammed
Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, United Nations, and Vice-Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Sustainable Development
Inequality is one of the key challenges of our time. Income inequality specifically is one of the most visible aspects of a broader and more complex issue, one that entails inequality of opportunity and extends to gender, ethnicity, disability, and age, among others. Ranking second in last year’s Outlook, it was identified as the most significant trend of 2015 by our Network’s experts. This affects all countries around the world. In developed and developing countries alike, the poorest half of the population often controls less than 10% of its wealth. This is a universal challenge that the whole world must address.
While it is true that around the world economic growth is picking up pace, deep challenges remain, including poverty, environmental degradation, persistent unemployment, political instability, violence and conflict. These problems, which are reflected in many parts of this report, are often closely related to inequality.

In developed and developing countries alike, the poorest half of the population often controls less than 10% of its wealth.

The inherent dangers of neglecting inequality are obvious. People, especially young people, excluded from the mainstream end up feeling disenfranchised and become easy fodder of conflict. This, in turn, reduces the sustainability of economic growth, weakens social cohesion and security, encourages inequitable access to and use of global commons, undermines our democracies, and cripples our hopes for sustainable development and peaceful societies.
How has the percentage share of national income of the richest 1%
changed over time?

Source: F. Alvaredo, A. B. Atkinson, T. Piketty and E. Saez, 2013. ‘The World Top Incomes Database’
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Which region will be most affected by deepening income inequality
in the next 12-18 months?

Source: Survey on the Global Agenda 2014
In order to effectively address inequality, countries need to embrace an integrated agenda that looks at the problem across the social, economic and environmental dimensions, including access to education, healthcare and resources. Central to these solutions is a basket of interventions that promotes equitable access to resources and services, as well as inclusive growth with decent jobs and livelihoods for all people within society. To enhance impact, disaggregated, high-quality and more transparent data is needed in order to target investments and channel resources where they are needed most.
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TweetWe are all aware of the vulnerabilities and perils that define daily life across the world. We know what we need: inclusive economies in which men and women have access to decent employment, legal identification, financial services, infrastructure and social protection, as well as societies where all people can contribute and participate in global, national and local governance. It is now time for action, in order to leave no one behind and bring everyone forward with a life of dignity.
