The psychology of economic inequality

In the UK, the USA, and in many other countries, a high level of economic inequality is now one of the major problems facing society. Yet, that is not clearly understood, nor is there political will to restore greater equality.

I am currently working on a book on this subject, provisionally titled The Psychology of Income and Wealth Inequality: How Bad it Has Become, Why it Matters, and How We and Our Politicians Are Accepting It. This is due to be published as a Springer open-access book, by Palgrave Macmillan, in 2025.

The purpose of the book is to develop a psychological understanding of how economic inequality is tolerated. The central question the book asks is why we are putting up with this much inequality? How is such a high level of income and wealth inequality justified? Do we, as citizens, understand how unequal our society has become? Are our beliefs in merit, desert, and individual autonomy standing in the way of dealing with the problem of high inequality? Is a conspiracy of the rich and powerful to blame? Have we accepted a distorted form of economic theory? Have politicians been captured by ideas that support inequality and reject redistribution?