, Columnist
Why Economists Avoid Discussing Inequality
Any conversation quickly veers into politics and the human tendency to compete and envy.
How will the neighbors feel?
Photographer: Ulrich Baumgarten/Ulrich Baumgarten/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Why would economists rather talk about efficiency than inequality? Having lived among them for a while, I don’t think the reason is what many people think. The common narrative on the political left is that economists are shilling for the rich, focusing on growth in order to draw attention away from how a few are gaining enormous wealth.