2022-01-31-devinit-不平等_全球趋势（英）_21页_513kb

Summary of "Inequality: Global Trends" Factsheet

Core Content

This factsheet provides an overview of global inequality, emphasizing its complex nature and the various dimensions that contribute to it. It outlines the current state of income and wealth inequality, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the role of climate change, and the potential of development finance to address inequality. It also highlights how horizontal inequalities intersect with economic disparities and how within-country inequality is influenced by structural and policy factors.

Main Points

• Global Inequality

  • The world is vastly unequal, with extreme wealth and extreme poverty coexisting.
  • The poorest 50% of the global population share just 8.5% of total income.
  • The richest 10% own over 50% of global income.
  • The poorest 50% own just 2% of total net wealth, while the richest 10% own 76% of total net wealth.
  • Wealth inequality has intensified during the pandemic, with billionaires adding $1.9 and $1.6 trillion to their net wealth in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

• Between-Country Inequality

  • Income inequality between countries is high, but the gap is narrowing.
  • China and India's faster growth has reduced global income inequality.
  • Countries in North America and Europe account for 57% of global household wealth, while African countries account for only 1% of global wealth.
  • The gap in recovery packages from the pandemic has also increased between countries.

• Covid-19 and Inequality

  • Lower income countries have faced a harder recovery due to limited financial capacity and vaccine access.
  • Only 10% of people in low-income countries have been vaccinated, compared to 78% in high-income countries.
  • Economic recovery is predicted to be faster in countries with higher vaccination rates, with poorer countries expected to return to pre-pandemic growth levels by 2024.

• Climate Change and Inequality

  • Lower income countries, which contributed the least to carbon emissions, will face the greatest costs.
  • The poorest 50% contribute only 12% of total carbon emissions, while the richest 10% contribute 47.6%.
  • Climate change will disproportionately impact low-income countries, especially due to their geographic and socioeconomic conditions.
  • Even with a 1.5°C warming target, the most vulnerable countries could face a 33.1% GDP hit by 2100.

• Development Finance and Inequality

  • Development finance, including ODA, FDI, remittances, and philanthropy, can be used to tackle inequality.
  • ODA is particularly well-suited for LDCs but its scale and allocation fall short.
  • LDCs receive only 29% of ODA despite representing over half of the extreme poor population.
  • Illicit financial flows from LDCs to higher-income countries undermine development efforts.

• Horizontal Inequalities

  • Economic inequalities intersect with horizontal inequalities based on identity, such as gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, and geography.
  • Children are more likely to live in poverty, and their education and health are severely impacted by the pandemic.
  • Women are disproportionately affected by economic inequality, facing legal and cultural discrimination.
  • People with disabilities experience multiple forms of discrimination, leading to poorer socioeconomic outcomes.

• Within-Country Inequality

  • Inequalities within countries are influenced by structural and policy factors.
  • South Africa has one of the highest levels of inequality globally, linked to historical racial discrimination.
  • Geographic inequalities are also significant, with areas like Turkana in Kenya and Buvuma in Uganda experiencing much higher poverty rates than urban centers like Nairobi and Kampala.
  • Policies can either exacerbate or reduce inequality, depending on how they are designed and implemented.

Key Information

• Income Distribution:

  • Global income is estimated at PPP $122 trillion, with the poorest 50% earning only PPP $3,920 per person per year.
  • The richest 10% earn PPP $122,100 per person per year.

• Wealth Distribution:

  • The poorest 50% own just 2% of global net wealth, averaging PPP $4,100 per adult.
  • The richest 10% own 76% of global net wealth, averaging PPP $771,300 per adult.

• Covid-19 Impact:

  • Lower income countries face a harder recovery due to limited resources and vaccine access.
  • Global wealth increased by 7.4% in 2020, but this was concentrated among the wealthy.

• Climate Change Impact:

  • The poorest 50% contribute only 12% of global carbon emissions, while the richest 10% contribute 47.6%.
  • Climate change will have a greater impact on low-income countries, especially due to geographic and socioeconomic factors.

• Development Finance:

  • ODA is a key tool for tackling inequality in LDCs, but its scale and allocation are insufficient.
  • Development finance should be directed more effectively to reach the poorest people.

• Policy Impact:

  • Targeted policies, such as social protection and education investments, can reduce inequality.
  • Historical policies, such as structural adjustment programmes, have exacerbated inequality.

Conclusion

Inequality is a multifaceted issue that intersects with poverty, wealth, and various forms of discrimination. Addressing inequality requires a comprehensive approach that includes policy interventions, redistribution of resources, and targeting of development finance to the most vulnerable populations. The pandemic and climate change have further exacerbated these inequalities, highlighting the urgent need for more equitable global systems and policies.