2018世界不平等报告（英文）_300页-12mb

World Inequality Report 2018 Summary

I. Core Objective of the Report

The World Inequality Report 2018 aims to provide a comprehensive and transparent analysis of global income and wealth inequality using advanced data collection methods. It seeks to inform public debates on inequality by presenting the most complete data available, highlighting the role of national policies, institutions, and economic structures in shaping inequality trends. The report emphasizes the need for more rigorous and accessible data to enable democratic decision-making on inequality-related issues.

II. Key Findings on Global Income Inequality

1. Regional Trends in Income Inequality

• Income inequality has increased in nearly all world regions over the past few decades, though at varying rates.
• Europe has the lowest income inequality, with the top 10% capturing 37% of national income in 2016.
• Middle East has the highest income inequality, with the top 10% capturing 61% of national income in 2016.
• United States and Canada have a top 10% income share of 47% in 2016, compared to 34% in 1980.
• India, Brazil, and sub-Saharan Africa also have high inequality, with the top 10% capturing 55% of national income in 2016.
• Russia has seen a significant rise in inequality, with the top 10% capturing 46% in 2016, up from 31% in 1980.

2. Global Income Inequality Trends

• The global top 1% captured twice as much income growth as the bottom 50% since 1980.
• The global middle class (bottom 90% in the EU and US) has been squeezed, with income growth stagnating or declining.
• In the United States, the top 1% captured 20% of national income in 2016, up from 11% in 1980.
• In Western Europe, the top 1% captured 12% of national income in 2016, up slightly from 10% in 1980.
• The bottom 50% in Western Europe captured only 9% of national income in 2016, down from 20% in 1980.

3. Income Inequality Dynamics

• The US and Western Europe have diverged significantly in their income inequality trajectories.
• The US has experienced a sharp rise in inequality, driven by:
  • Educational inequalities
  • Less progressive tax systems
  • Rising top labor and capital incomes
• Europe has seen a more moderate increase in inequality, aided by:
  • More progressive taxation
  • Educational and wage-setting policies favoring lower-income groups

III. Shifts in Public and Private Capital Ownership

1. Public vs. Private Wealth

• There has been a general shift from public to private capital ownership since 1980 in most countries.
• Net private wealth has increased significantly, reaching 400–700% of national income in many developed countries, while public wealth has declined or turned negative.
• In China and Russia, the transition from communist to capitalist systems led to unusually large increases in private wealth, with the top 1% capturing 30% and 43% of national wealth, respectively, by 2015.

2. Implications for Inequality

• The decline in public wealth limits the capacity of governments to regulate the economy and redistribute income.
• Norway is an exception, maintaining positive public wealth due to its sovereign wealth fund.

IV. Wealth Inequality Trends

1. Global Wealth Inequality

• The global top 1% owns 33% of total wealth in 2016, up from 28% in 1980.
• Under a "business as usual" scenario, the top 1% is projected to own 39% of global wealth by 2050.
• The top 0.1% wealth share is expected to catch up with the middle class (bottom 50% of the wealth distribution) by 2050.

2. Country-Specific Wealth Trends

• United States: Top 1% wealth share increased from 22% in 1980 to 39% in 2014.
• France and UK: Wealth inequality has increased, but at a moderate pace, partly due to middle-class housing wealth.
• China and Russia: Top 1% wealth share doubled from 15% to 30% (China) and from 22% to 43% (Russia) between 1995 and 2015.

V. Addressing Global Inequality

1. Policy Recommendations

• Tax progressivity is a proven tool to reduce inequality, especially at the top.
• Progressive taxation reduces both pre-tax and post-tax inequality by limiting the ability of top earners to accumulate wealth.
• Tax policy reforms are necessary, particularly in high-inequality emerging countries where inheritance taxes are minimal or nonexistent.

2. Need for Global Cooperation

• A global financial register would help combat tax evasion, money laundering, and rising inequality.
• Educational and job access policies are crucial to address inequality at the bottom.
• Government investment in public goods and infrastructure is essential for long-term inequality reduction.

VI. Conclusion

• The World Inequality Report 2018 highlights the systematic rise in inequality globally, driven by privatization, deregulation, and tax cuts.
• It underscores the importance of data transparency and policy reform in tackling inequality.
• The report serves as a call to action for policymakers, citizens, and institutions to engage in informed and democratic debates on inequality and its future trajectory.