Why do some people accept, or even approve of, economic inequalities? This essay unpacks various justifications—market, moral, cultural, and group-based—that people across the world invoke to defend their views.
Thomas Piketty. 2020. Capital and Ideology. Harvard University Press. A sweeping account of how societies justify inequality over time, with rich comparative insights on cultural aspects.
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Danny Dorling. 2015. Injustice: Why Social Inequality Still Persists. Policy Press. Engaging and accessible, this book explores the cultural trends that make economic gaps seem acceptable.
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Shamus Khan. 2011. Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School. Princeton University Press. An insightful book revealing how elite students manage to retain their privilege while operating in an increasingly more open and diverse society.
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Podcast series: The Weeds. Accessible episodes on inequality, meritocracy, and economic policy that connect public narratives and policy.
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Podcast episode: “The Social Acceptance of Inequality,”2024. International Horizons. A global look at public attitudes toward inequality.
