Introduction

Inequality has become the defining economic issue of our time. Growing public concern about inequality has also led to populist revolts against political elites that have swept America, Britain and parts of Europe. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book outlines the way inequality in its various dimensions have evolved over the past 20 years. It shows that certain ethnic minority groups have suffered disproportionally from poverty and falls in real income. The book reflects the fact that poverty rather than its structural roots in inequality has been the main focus of media attention and research. It shows that the public has an intense interest in understanding the economic consequences of the pandemic but is highly critical of how well media has done its job.