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This book tackles two central challenges in the discourse on economic inequality. First, there is no consensus on what constitutes a morally acceptable inequality, as even philosophers struggle to conceptualize benchmarks for distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable disparities. Second, while tolerable inequality has the potential to evolve into systemic patterns of polarization, segregation, and discrimination, it can ultimately escalate into unjustifiable inequality. This self-reinforcing cycle complicates efforts to achieve equitable distributions.
The book explores these challenges in two sections through a multidisciplinary lens. Part one discusses distributive justice and philosophical debates surrounding inequality s acceptable boundaries. Part two employs the concept of social aggregations such as families, cities, firms, and nations to examine how even initially tolerable inequality can spread and intensify through interconnected social systems. By emphasizing the relational nature of inequality, the book underscores its systemic complexity and the need for holistic understanding.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Part I. Challenge One: No Consensus on What Constitutes Morally Tolerable Economic Inequality.- Chapter 2. Some Preliminary Considerations on Distributive Justice.- Chapter 3. Tolerable Inequality According to Radical Egalitarians.- Chapter 4. Tolerable Inequality According to Desert-Based and Meritocratic Theories.- Chapter 5. Tolerable Inequality According to Utilitarians.- Chapter 6. Tolerable Inequality According to John Rawls.- Chapter 7. Tolerable Inequality According to Amartya Sen.- Part II. Challenge Two: Tolerable Economic Inequality Can Turn Intolerable.- Chapter 8. Economic Inequality and the Family.- Chapter 9. Economic Inequality and the City.- Chapter 10. Economic Inequality and the Firm.- Chapter 11. Economic Inequality and the Nation.
About the author
Maurizio Bovi is currently serving as Research Manager at the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), and also an adjunct professor of Economics at "Sapienza" University of Rome (Italy). Dr. Bovi has published several articles on international journals and chapters in books. A former economic advisor for Economy and Finance of the Italian Government, Dr. Bovi won the "I. Kerstenetzky Award" for the best paper presented at the 2008 CIRET (Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys) Conference, Santiago, Chile.
