The Inequality Predicament

Report on the World Social Situation 2005

United Nations

Preface

 

Explanatory notes

 

Executive summary

 

Introduction

 

 

 

I.The case for focusing on inequality

   Linkages between poverty eradication and
   inequality

 

   Inequality and the economic dimension
   of poverty

 

   Inequality and the socio-political dimensions
   of poverty

 

   Structural reform, the public sector and inequality

 

   Universal access to education, health care and
   social protection

 

   Patterns of intervention

 

   Conclusion

 

 

 

 

II.A spotlight on inequality: the informal economy

   A brief overview of the informal economy

 

   The attraction of the informal economy

 

   Reasons for the growth of the informal economy

 

   Linkages between the formal and informal
   economies

 

   Conclusion
 

 

 

 

III.Trends and patterns of inequality

   Economic aspects of inequality

 

   Income inequality between countries

 

   Income inequality within countries

 

   Poverty

 

   Unemployment

 

   Non-economic aspects of inequality

 

   Health

 

   Life expectancy

 

   Maternal and child health

 

   HIV/AIDS and other deseases

 

   Hunger and malnutrition

 

   Education

 

   Conclusion

 

 

 

 

 
IV.Inequalities and social integration

   Intergenerational dimensions of inequality

 

   Consumption, inequality and social
   integration

 

   Violence and inequality

 

   Violent crime

 

   Armed conflict

 

   Youth demographics

 

   Rape and child soldiers

 

   Domestic violence and slavery

 

   Fostering democracy and social
   integration

 

   Conclusion
 

 

 

 

 

 

V.The changing context of development and inequality

   Globalization: asymmetries and the loss of policy space

 

   The impact of liberalization and stabilization policies on

 

   inequality

 

   Financial liberalization

 

   Trade liberalization

 

   Financing the social agenda

 

   Official development assistance

 

   Innovative sources of financing

 

   Migrant remittances

 

   The peace dividend

 

   The role of the State and civil society

 

   Conclusion
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI.The way forward: policies to reduce inequality

   Redressing global asymmetries

 

   Intensifying integrated strategies and policies
   for poverty eradication

 

   Guaranteeing employment opportunities for all

 

   Fostering social integration and cohesion

 

 

 

Annex

The ten commitments of the World Summit for Social Development

 

 

Bibliography

 

 

 

 

Figures

 

I.1Policy framework: the three main pillars of social
    development centred on equity and equality

 

I.2Relationship between life expectancy at birth and
    the level of public and private health spending, 2002

 

III.1Evolution of income inequality among countries

 

III.2Per capita gross domestic product in the poorest and
    richest countries, 1960-1962 and 2000-2002

 

III.3Inequalities in life expectancy between major world regions: 
      deviations of regional life expectancy at birth from that of
      Australia/New Zealand, (1990-1995 and 2000-2005)

 

III.4Distribution of all countries according to how far their
      life expectancy falls below that of Japan, 1990 and 2000

 

V.1Aid from all Development Assistance Committee (DAC)
      donors as a percentage of gross domestic product:
      the long-term trend to 2004

 

V.2Aid from Development Assistance Committee (DAC)
     donors as a proportion of gross domestic product

 

V.3Social sector spending among country groupings
     classified by income

 

V.4Defence and social sector spending in countries
     with the highest defence expenditures

 

V.5Defence and social spending in countries with
     the highest social sector expenditures

 

 

 

 

Tables

 

I.1Size and growth of the informal sector in selected
    countries, by sex

 

III.1Regional per capita income as a share of high-income
      OECD countries’ average per capita income

 

III.2Distribution of countries according to trends in Gini
      coefficients for income distribution between the 1950s
      and the 1990s

 

III.3Poverty rates for the world, major regions, and
      China and India

 

III.4Unemployment rates, labour force growth rates and
      GDP growth rates for the world and major regions

 

III.5Levels of under-five mortality for selected countries
      and between-country inequality indices

 

III.6Under-five mortality for countries with the highest
       and lowest rates, 1995, 2000 and 2002

 

III.7Immunization coverage among children aged 12-23 months,
      by country and selected background characteristics

 

III.8Differentials within and between selected countries in access
      to skilled medical care at delivery for children born three years
      before the survey

 

III.9Adults and children affected by HIV/AIDS: the world and
      major regions, 2004

 

III.10Women living with HIV: the world and major regions, 2004

 

III.11Percentages of total, urban and rural household populations
        with no education, by sex

 

III.12Inequalities in primary school enrolment: the world and
        major regions, 1998 and 2001

 

III.13Inequalities in secondary school enrolment: the world
        and major regions, 1998 and 2001