While it has always been a concern, it has recently become a central question in economics and a potent political issue. Why was it neglected for so long, and why is it now at the forefront of public debate? In Inequality: A Short History, the authors discuss the emergence of the question of economic inequality in the twenty-first century and explain how it is related to globalization and the survival of democracy. They also discuss trends and the future of inequality in both the developed and the developing worlds. Inequality is a pressing issue that not only affects living standards, but is also inextricably linked to the way our democracies work. -- from back cover.