Understanding economic inequality : bigger pies and just deserts Over the last 25 years nearly two billion people across the globe have risen out of poverty and income levels have risen worldwide. Yet in the US the top 1% earn twice the amount of income as the poorest 50% of the population. In the midst of rising prosperity economic dissatisfaction driven by the persistent fear felt by many that they are falling behind is higher than at any point since the 1930s. In Understanding Economic Inequality the author brings an economists perspective informed by new groundbreaking research on inequality from philosophy sociology psychology and political science and presents it in a form that it is accessible to those who want to understand our world our society our politics our paychecks and our neighbors paychecks better. As any history of the 21st century would be incomplete without understanding the 99% versus the 1% the insights provided by the author will prove valuable to any reader. This book also provides the foundation for undergraduate courses on wealth and income inequality and an essential reading for introductory economics labor economics public policy law or sociology courses