ABSTRACT
Inequality of wealth and income is a topic that excites the interest of people, particularly young people whose relative position has declined in recent decades. As the word implies, it is about comparisons between different groups at different times, offering an opportunity for discussions of important social and political issues where numbers are central. But, as with any complex field, there are many issues to consider. When, for example, should we include wealth, where the disparities are even larger, along with income? Finding appropriate data and choosing it to tell a story is at the heart of mathematical literacy. Here more than in most areas, the choice a person makes in presenting a case will depend on the message they want to get across – which is interesting in itself. So this is very much a ‘know about’ chapter, where critical thinking is central.
