Inequality

Inequality is deeply ingrained in society, impacting various aspects of life. It is often overlooked or ignored, but its effects can lead to unrest and dysfunction. Research has not always explicitly addressed equality or equity, potentially due to the timing or industry focus. However, inequality permeates all spheres.

Millions of people experience unequal access to resources such as education, employment, housing, healthcare, and basic necessities due to factors like infrastructure, location, race, religion, or policy. These disparities can contribute to social and economic issues, including crime, polarization, and counter trends like xenophobia and nationalism. The collective understanding of equity and equality is evolving, propelled by emerging social justice movements.

Inequality extends beyond social realms and affects businesses, nations, and overall development and economic growth. Inequality is rising globally, with the impacts transcending local boundaries. Efforts by governments and businesses to address equity and equality can be perceived as mere superficial gestures. Exclusion of key stakeholders and affected communities perpetuates the status quo and narrow eligibility criteria, favoring privileged groups. The differences in ideas, legislation, and application span multiple realities, making it challenging to strike a balance between benefits and negative impacts. Progress and regress often coexist, and decisions in one area or industry have ripple effects.

Visible and invisible structures sustain and amplify inequality in society, governments, and businesses. Achieving an equitable balance will benefit individuals, nations, and businesses alike.

Sustainable Health Systems - Visions, Strategies, Critical Uncertainties and Scenarios by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with McKinsey & Company interviewed over 200 leaders in healthcare to provide a systemic analysis of the healthcare industry and answer the question: what could health systems look like in 2040? One of the Drivers of Change identified is “Income equality”.

Emerging economies: demographic change by UK Government Office for Science focuses on the demographic changes occurring in emerging economies and their potential implications. It highlights the significant growth of the middle class and urban populations, as well as aging populations and increasing life expectancy. One of the impacts identified from these changes is poverty and the potential for extreme inequality.

The Future of Cybercrime in Light of Technology Developments by RAND presents the findings of a study conducted to understand current and future trends in cybercrime and identify policy measures to address them. Key findings include the anticipated increase in cybercrime due to advancements in connectivity, information technology, computing power, and data analysis capabilities. They list “Social and economic drivers of crime” as “poverty, lack of social cohesion, lack of access to housing, employment, education, and health services.”

Human Progress and Human Services 2035: A Scenario Exploration by Institute for Alternative Futures explores the future of human services and its impact on human progress in the year 2035. It envisions a shift towards personalized, integrated, and technology-driven services that prioritize individual well-being and social equity. The endnotes list topics explored to help develop the scenarios. Among these are:

• Developing low and very low-income housing options
• The guaranteed basic income (GBI)
• Equity rising

The Future of Asia: Forces of Change and Potential Surprises and Supplementary Report by Policy Horizons Canada examines the potential future trends and challenges that Canada may face in the next 10-15 years. It explores various topics including technological advancements, climate change, demographic shifts, and geopolitical dynamics. One of the 'forces of change' identified for this report is 'social inequality'.

Exploring europe's capability requirements for 2035 and beyond by RAND for the European Defense Agency aims to address defense and military challenges in Europe over the long-term. It highlights economic factors that could contribute to unrest and conflict, such as:

• Continuous economic globalisation, if not without opposition or discontent
• Increased inequalities
• Increased costs of the welfare society

Global Foresight 2022 by Atlantic Council examines three scenarios and their implications on global trends and challenges.

• Cold War II, with a twist
• A World Transformed by Climate Shocks
• A Democratic Resistance

The scenarios are shaped by 10 trends, one of which is 'The Deepening of Domestic Disorders' which discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities within and between countries, impacting marginalized groups disproportionately.

Thinking MENA Futures: The Next Five Years and Beyond by the Middle East Institute is a series of essays looking at the next 5 years (2021-2026) for the Middle East and North Africa. One of these essays looks at the rights of women and claims that “inequality remains the greatest impediment to regional progress.”

Equitable Future Mobility by ARUP highlights the importance of transport in promoting social inclusion and decarbonizing the transportation sector. It emphasizes the need for equitable and accessible transport systems that do not perpetuate existing inequalities. Social, digital, and transport disadvantages are seen as contributing drivers for mobility innovation.

The Future of Mining in Latin America: Critical Minerals and the Global Energy Transition by Brookings Institution examines the future of mining in Latin America, highlighting the region's vast mineral resources and the potential for economic growth. It emphasizes the importance of sustainable mining practices, including environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Key concerns contributing to conflict are:

• environmental impacts
• insufficient consultation with affected communitites
• inequitable distribution of socioeconomic benefits

A Circular Water Future: White Paper on Water Reuse by ARUP discusses the concept of a circular water future and presents strategies for achieving sustainable water management. It emphasizes the importance of circular economy principles, such as water reuse, recycling, and resource recovery, to address water scarcity and pollution challenges. Unequal access to infrastructure is listed as one of the 'challenges of water reuse'.

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