Is Economics Promoting Inequality?
Kaushik Basu highlights the profession's role in the widening of wealth and income gaps around the world.
Mainstream economics has often underestimated the critical role of trust and cooperation in enabling prosperity.
As a result, it has justified and even encouraged the greed, exploitation, and extreme inequality that are eroding political accountability, contributing to rising nationalism, and undermining human well-being.
In many countries, political leaders are cutting programs and services that benefit the poor, while stoking fear and anger against migrants and refugees.
Their intentions, such as safeguarding individual freedom, promoting prosperity, and protecting citizens, often mask a policy agenda designed to enrich themselves and their wealthy cronies.
Autor's summary: Economics role in widening wealth gaps.