Branko Milanović is a prominent economist renowned for his groundbreaking research on income distribution and global inequality. His work delves into the intricate patterns of wealth disparities across nations and over time, offering profound insights into the economic forces shaping our world. Milanović's rigorous analysis and clear prose make complex economic concepts accessible to a broad audience, cementing his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary economic thought.
For the first time in history, the globe is dominated by one economic system. Capitalism prevails because it delivers prosperity and meets desires for autonomy. But it also is unstable and morally defective. Surveying the varieties and futures of capitalism, Branko Milanovic offers creative solutions to improve a system that isn't going anywhere.
Branko Milanovic charts 200 years of the fascinating history of the discourse on inequality through portraits of six key economists, from Quesnay to Kuznets. In their work and lives, we see how differently each conceived of inequality, and how the subject, prominent in their times, was eclipsed during the Cold War and has become central once again.
Winner of the Bruno Kreisky Prize, Karl Renner Institut A Financial Times Best Economics Book of the Year An Economist Best Book of the Year A Livemint Best Book of the Year One of the world’s leading economists of inequality, Branko Milanovic presents a bold new account of the dynamics that drive inequality on a global scale. Drawing on vast data sets and cutting-edge research, he explains the benign and malign forces that make inequality rise and fall within and among nations. He also reveals who has been helped the most by globalization, who has been held back, and what policies might tilt the balance toward economic justice. “The data [Milanovic] provides offer a clearer picture of great economic puzzles, and his bold theorizing chips away at tired economic orthodoxies.” —The Economist “Milanovic has written an outstanding book...Informative, wide-ranging, scholarly, imaginative and commendably brief. As you would expect from one of the world’s leading experts on this topic, Milanovic has added significantly to important recent works by Thomas Piketty, Anthony Atkinson and François Bourguignon...Ever-rising inequality looks a highly unlikely combination with any genuine democracy. It is to the credit of Milanovic’s book that it brings out these dangers so clearly, along with the important global successes of the past few decades. —Martin Wolf, Financial Times
A Brief and Idiosyncratic History of Global Inequality
A leading economist at the World Bank's research division traces the history of financial inequality as reflected in famous stories, analyzing such examples as the monetary disparities between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy and the assets of wealthy ancient Romans compared to today's super-rich.
Poprvé v lidských dějinách celé planetě dominuje jeden ekonomický systém. Kapitalismus triumfoval, protože se ukázal životaschopnější a adaptabilnější než systémy jiné. Přinesl lidem blahobyt a uspokojil jejich touhu po nezávislosti. Ale vyžádal si za to vysokou morální cenu, naučil nás považovat materiální úspěch za konečný cíl našeho jednání. Kapitalismus sám o sobě nenabízí záruku stability. Na Západě je k prasknutí napínán nerovností a nadbytkem. V Číně dobývá srdce milionů obyvatel a na první pohled se zdá, že funguje efektivněji než na Západě. Je však mnohem náchylnější ke korupci a při zpomalení růstu může vyvolávat ničivé sociální nepokoje. Proroctví předpovídající jednu jedinou nevyhnutelnou budoucnost lidstva jsou lichá. Kapitalismus je systémem plným rizik, ale je systémem lidským: bude nám sloužit tím lépe, čím jasněji si budeme vědomi svých rozhodnutí.