Trend Growing inequalities fueling discontent

Summary

This trend describes widening inequality turning into social and political discontent. UNDP lists it among the megatrends behind recent crises and ties it to the theme of uneven pathways to prosperity. Post-pandemic recovery split countries by the strength of their institutions and fiscal space, while technology raised incomes for some and exposed gaps for others. World Economic Forum respondents rated inequality the most interconnected global risk over the next decade. UNDP also points to debates on measuring progress beyond GDP, a 2% minimum wealth tax on billionaires and universal basic income pilots. The trend implies that uneven gains may feed grievances unless distribution is addressed.