Inequality Working Group

About

What are economists talking about when they talk about inequality? And why is inequality even relevant to economics? Join us to explore the philosophical and technical aspects of these questions.

Coordinators:
Francisco Ardila Suarez (Humboldt University, Germany)
Diana Figueroa (Free University Berlin)
Nandu Sasidharan Nair (University of Siena, Italy)

Contact
inequality[@]youngscholarsinitiative.org

Mandate (2024)

Research themes

    • Participating in discussions regarding the emergence of new socio-ecological inequalities resulting from the climate crisis and its global responses involves exploring adaptation and mitigation strategies across both the Global North and South.
    • Joining the discourse on how colonial debt influences the dynamics of present-day financial markets and magnifies social-economic disparities, both on a national-state scale and individual level.
    • Delving into the complex interplay between social reproduction, capital accumulation, and the inequalities they perpetuate through an intersectional perspective, which offers a nuanced comprehension of systemic dynamics.
    • Participating in the economic-ecologic decoupling debate and its role in re-interpreting growth and inequality on a global scale.
    • Reflecting on heterodox economic methodologies addressing gender inequalities and socio-economic relations.
    • Structural change and Inequality: Understanding the relationship from structural transformation narrative.
    • Analyzing the institutional reforms in financing the Welfare State and the story of inequality.
    • Forging strategic partnerships with other YSI Working Groups centered on addressing inequality as a cross-cutting theme.

Research Questions

  • Are rising rents and stagnant wages increasing the breach between capital owners and employees? What are the social dynamics observed as a response to the new, more unequal status quo?
  • What would be the full impact of AI on white- and blue-collar jobs? Which career paths are safer in facing this revolution? Is the outlook dire, or is there potential for positive change?
  • What would be the impact of a decoupling future with inequality? Which nations and individuals are more likely to transition, and which are not?
  • Does Structural change affect income and non-income inequality?
  • What is the role of new institutionalism in inequality?
  • How does taxation affect regional inequality?
  • How do adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the climate crisis differ between the Global North and South, and how do these differences contribute to the emergence of new socio-ecological inequalities?
  • In what ways does colonial debt shape present-day financial markets, exacerbating social-economic disparities on both national-state and individual levels? How can these dynamics be mitigated?
  • How does an intersectional analysis, incorporating the perspectives of subaltern groups, elucidate the intricate relationship between social reproduction and capital accumulation, which perpetuates inequalities?
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Projects Planned 

  • YSI Panel @ Developing Days Conference 2024, Helsinki, 15-16 February 2024 (Jointly organized with the Development Working Group in cooperation with the Finnish Society for Development Research and the University of Helsinki)
  • WAPLAC, Costa Rica, 9-10 May 2024, organized with the Latin America Working Group in cooperation with the Universidad de Costa Rica.
  • YSI Pre-conference@ STOREP 2024, Milan, Italy 26 -29 July 2024, (jointly organized with the History of Economic Thought, Political Economy of Europe, States and Markets Working Groups of the Young Scholars Initiative at the Department of Historical Studie
  • YSI Panel @ Association Heterodox Economics 2024, Bristol, 10-12 July 2024 (Jointly organized with the Development Working Group in cooperation with the Bristol Research in Economics and The College of Business and Law at the University of the West of Eng
  • YSI Mini Inequality Conference @ KREA University in India.
  • YSI Panel on Corruption and inequality @ TBD. Candidates: Baltic Economic Conference, SASE, European Political Science Association.
  • YSI Workshop “Addressing Resource Inequality in the Global South” @ University of Nairobi.
  • YAI Online Lecture Series “Inequality and Intersections” in cooperation with the University of Mysore.
  • YSI Workshop @ soCOP Cali 21.October – 01.November in cooperation with the Universidad del Valle.
  • YSI G20 Rio Special Project 15 November in Cooperation with the UFRJ.
  • YSI Panel @ Lateinamerika Institut – December in cooperation with the Free University of Berlin.

Existing partnerships and cooperation 

  • STOREP (Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell’Economia Politica)
  • AHE (Association for Heterodox Economics)
  • International Inequality Institute at LSE
  • IPKN (Italian Post-Keynesian Network)
  • ASTRIL (Associazione Studi e Ricerca Interdisciplinari sul Lavoro)
  • Centro Celso Furtado
  • IARIW (International Association for Research in Income and Wealth)
  • Finnish society for development research. FSDR
  • UCL
  • LAI (Latin American Institute in Berlin)
  • UNU WIDER, Helsinki
  • WAPLAC

Projects

You’re welcome to join any webinar or reading group at any time. You’re also invited to apply to present or participate in an any in-person workshop in your area. 

Upcoming 

News

The latest updates and announcements, sent out to all working group members via email.
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YSI Board Election
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April 30, 2021
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Conversation with Ecuatorial Presidential Candidate
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February 26, 2021
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