Inequality

The existence of inequality feels so accepted it’s almost ignored. A fact of life that’s hiding just around the corner of most conversations, any moment at risk of bubbling over into unrest and dysfunction. Often the notion of equality wasn’t explicitly mentioned in the research, equity even less so. This could be due to when reports were written, or due to a perception that inequality is social and less central to industry conversations. Regardless, it touches all aspects of life.

Millions of people suffer from unequal distribution of, and access to, resources. Due to infrastructure, location, race, religion, or policy things like education, employment opportunities, housing, health care, food, water, and energy are inequitably and unequally doled out. These unequal distribution of benefits can lead to social and economic drivers of crime, less cohesive populations, increased polarization, and counter trends like “immigrant hostility and rising white nationalism”. The collective social understanding of concepts is shifting negatively and positively. Shared goals, ideas, and narratives are realigning, many toward trends where equity and equality conversations are increasingly valued, buoyed by emerging social justice/equity movements.

Inequality is not just a social issue, it exists between businesses, between nations, and it impacts development and economic growth from micro to macro scales. Inter-and intra-nationally, inequality is rising, and the impacts aren’t localized; one region’s relative equality can be reliant upon varying global conditions. When a country’s population heavily relies on funds sent home from citizens working abroad, immigration laws in the host country can negatively impact economic growth of developing economies. Or when the economy of an area is maintained by a dominant industry, it increases the vulnerability of those populations to events, like extreme weather, that limit or shut down their economy.

Increasingly, the attempts of governments and businesses to improve equity or equality are perceived as box-ticking exercises and it’s not hard to imagine why. When key players and affected communities aren’t allowed a seat at the table, leaders and elites are more incentivized to maintain their status quo, privilege, and governments and organizations “are often motivated to keep eligibility criteria narrow to limit the population to which the requirement applies”. (Record 485) The differences between ideas, how they’re legislated, and applied often span a range of realities. Navigating how to balance benefits and negative impacts is a challenge almost everyone can relate to. A step forward doesn’t always mean a reduction in inequality. When solutions are proposed in one area or industry or community, the repercussions of those decisions have ripple effects.

Visible and invisible structures perpetuate, reinforce, and amplify the effects and existence of inequality in our society, our governments, and our businesses. “Progress and regress go hand in hand” (record?) and finding an equitable balance will benefit individuals, nations, and business 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.

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

A Circular Water Future: White Paper on Water Reuse by