When the incomes of wealthy individuals and companies grow faster than the economy itself, income inequality rises in society. However, industrialised economies such as the UK and Germany have experienced sustained declines in growth, and policies to promote economic growth often clash with environmental sustainability. Therefore, economists are attempting to find solutions for decreasing income inequality without the need to stimulate economic growth. In a recent paper, Dr Tilman Hartley at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and his collaborators outline policy interventions that can improve income equality during periods of slow or no growth.
