The Economics of Inequality

Thomas Piketty-whose Capital in the Twenty-First Century pushed inequality to the forefront of public debate-wrote The Economics of Inequality as an introduction to the conceptual and factual background necessary for interpreting changes in economic inequality over time. This concise text has established itself as an indispensable guide for students and general readers in France, where it has been regularly updated and revised. Translated by Arthur Goldhammer, The Economics of Inequality now appears in English for the first time.

Piketty begins by explaining how inequality evolves and how economists measure it. In subsequent chapters, he explores variances in income and ownership of capital and the variety of policies used to reduce these gaps. Along the way, with characteristic clarity and precision, he introduces key ideas about the relationship between labor and capital, the effects of different systems of taxation, the distinction between "historical" and "political" time, the impact of education and technological change, the nature of capital markets, the role of unions, and apparent tensions between the pursuit of efficiency and the pursuit of fairness.

Succinct, accessible, and authoritative, this is the ideal place to start for those who want to understand the fundamental issues at the heart of one of the most pressing concerns in contemporary economics and politics.

“Piketty's The Economics of Inequality is an excellent book and a great companion to Capital . This book is a remarkable mix of extensive data, attention to theory, and concern for policy.”

In a work that is aligned with but antecedent to his grand synthesis, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, French economist Piketty examines the structural causes of inequality… A discussion worth having and a book worth reading. Kirkus Reviews
Piketty’s The Economics of Inequality is an excellent book and a great companion to Capital. This book is a remarkable mix of extensive data, attention to theory, and concern for policy. -- Axel Gosseries, Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS) and University of Louvain (UCL)
If Piketty is right, inequality is increasing and cannot be cured by the free market; we must understand the problem to understand how to address it. This should be required reading for every concerned citizen. Publishers Weekly
Even a brief guide to basic concepts in Piketty’s field of study can remind you, at every turn, that something profound is going on within the global economic system. The data, especially the data from recent decades, does not conceal the tale…Avarice and plunder play no part in the language of economics, but they too are causes and consequences of the phenomena Piketty describes. In some respects, his work is an assault on the kind of cult thinking that these days passes for economic and political analysis. -- Ian Bell Glasgow Herald
Piketty’s The Economics of Inequality, which acts as a primer, provides a useful starting point for a wide audience. -- Tom Healy Irish Times
Translated into English for the first time, it offers an exceptionally clear, cogent, and coherent discussion of economic inequality. -- Richard N. Cooper Foreign Affairs

Thomas Piketty is Professor at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) and the Paris School of Economics and Codirector of the World Inequality Lab.

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