Why Does Inequality Matter: From Economism to Social Integrity

Abstract

The lack of consensus over inequality contrasts with the obvious agreement regarding the need to eradicate poverty. Inequality is studied for a number of reasons: to identify its sources, its consequences, to what extent it may be desirable, the dynamic links between inequality and poverty, or to try to discern the major structural forces underlying it. Little attention has been given though to the main objection as regards inequality. Economic accounts are for the most part obscure and their assumptions are often very different from those of sociologists. This paper argues that while the many differences among different accounts must be considered, it is also important to identify the various approaches tackling this issue in a more direct way. This work explores four categories: the economic arguments, the accounts on dynamic poverty and human development, the theories on social contract and social justice, and finally, those focused on social integrity. It is argued that approaches based on social integrity are more conclusive as they tend to demonstrate, with a more basic logic, in what way serious inequality may undermine both the whole social agenda and a coherent political body which is so necessary for social progress and a thorough enforcement of citizens' rights.