Theme 4: Globalisation & Inequality 2015

We will be looking at this presentation after we have gone through the exam papers. In the meantime, try and watch the video clip.

A2 Macro - Aspects of Globalisation (2015) from tutor2u

Evaluating Benefits and Costs of Globalisation from tutor2u

Theme 4: Inequality and Globalisation

Paul Krugman, Angus Deaton and Joseph Stiglitz look at aspects of inequality driven by globalisation and pervasive rent-seeking in this short video. Over the long run can we ever close the enormous gap between rich and poor?

Unit 4: Income inequality - analysis & evaluation

The economic causes and consequences of income and wealth inequality are a big part of Unit 4. The short programme below is well worth a to listen to.

A billion people have been lifted out of poverty since 1990, but inequality has been rising in many other countries at the same time. So, how much inequality is too much? Many may recoil from such a question - inequality is a dirty word. But this programme isn't about fairness. This programme is about economics – and how far inequality affects growth and prosperity. Presented by the economist and broadcaster Linda Yueh.

Click here to access the link.

Unit 4: A richer, but more unequal world!

This issue is emerging as one of the big, if not the biggest, economics story of our times. The world is vastly richer than in even the recent past, with many poor countries making good progress in catching up with the richer ones.

Yet within almost all economies, income and wealth gaps are widening. Last year Oxfam were talking about a double decker bus, representing the world’s richest people, who own half the wealth. This year wealth is concentrated in even fewerhands.

The BBC and Guardian carry the Oxfam story about steeply rising wealth inequalities.

This is a huge topic. You can start by thinking what may be behind this problem. More time could go into analysing its effects. (see slideshow below)

Inequality, Economic Growth and Development from tutor2u

The good news is that the BBC are launching a new series – A Richer World. The trailer says ‘the world is getting wealthier - we live longer, eat better, are better educated and fewer people live in extreme poverty. But with the gap between rich and poor feeling bigger than ever, the BBC is investigating the winners and losers of this richer world in 2015.

There’s a good video clip to introduce the series here, and a short trailer using the example of New York City to illustrate rising inequality within American society.

Many of the points raised above provide useful evaluative information for any question on policies to reduce income inequality.

Here is an interesting question.....what did you see in the picture?