Past and Future Inequalities

Abstract

To anticipate future inequalities requires a combination of 1) sound explanations of inequality's different forms, 2) reasonable projections of the variables that figure in those explanations. An explanation in terms of exploitation and opportunity hoarding plus some extrapolations from recent changes with respect to capital, communication, and coercion lead to tentative predictions for 2001 through 2050 that a) land-based inequality will diminish in importance, b) machine-based inequality will become more salient, c) inequality based on access to financial capital, information, science, and coercive means will sharpen significantly.