Growing inequality

Globalization has produced striking patterns of inequality.

• Between countries: Inequality among countries has decreased overall, especially because of growth in China and India. But large gaps remain, and some regions (particularly sub-Saharan Africa) have not seen comparable improvements.
• Within countries: Inequality within most countries has increased. The richest segments have gained enormously while wages for workers in developed countries have stagnated or declined in real terms. The top 1% globally have captured a disproportionate share of growth.
• Specific gainers and losers: Chinese factory workers, Indian IT professionals, and the global top 1% have benefited substantially. Western working-class manufacturing workers and sub-Saharan African populations have benefited least or experienced decline.