Super rich : the rise of inequality in Britain and the United States / George Irvin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Irvin, George.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Income distribution--Great Britain.

Income distribution.

Quality of life.

Wealth--Social aspects.

Wealth.

Great Britain.

Income distribution--United States.

United States.

Wealth--Social aspects--Great Britain.

Wealth--Social aspects--United States.

Quality of life--Great Britain.

Quality of life--United States.

Physical Description:

vii, 260 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; Malden, MA : Polity Press, 2008.

Summary:

In the past twenty-five years, the distribution of income and wealth in Britain and the United States has grown enormously unequal, far more so than in other advanced countries. Super Rich, which is aimed at both an academic and a general audience, examines how this happened, starting with the economic shocks of the 1970s and the neo-liberal policies first applied under Thatcher and Reagan.

The view that growing inequality is an inevitable consequence of globalization and that public finances must be squeezed is firmly rejected. Instead, it is argued that advanced economies need more progressive taxation to dampen fluctuations and to fund higher levels of social provision, taking the Nordic countries as exemplary. The broad political goal should be to return within a generation to the lower degree of income inequality which prevailed in Britain and the United States during the years of post-war prosperity.

Using a wealth of examples and empirical data, the book explores the social costs entailed by relative deprivation and widespread income insecurity, costs that affect not just the poor but now reach well into the middle classes. Uniquely, the author shows how inequality, changing consumption patterns and global financial turbulence are interlinked.

Contents:

1 Neo-liberalism and the Return of Inequality 9

2 Do We Need Fat Cats? 37

3 The Rise of Neo-liberalism 62

4 America, Europe and the Welfare State 83

5 Happiness and Pareto 108

6 What About the Middle Class? 130

7 The Rising Cost of Inequality 148

8 Is the Consumption Binge Sustainable? 169

9 In Defence of Equality 196.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-245) and index.

ISBN:

9780745644646

0745644643

9780745644653

0745644651

OCLC:

228275778