&gt; economic inequality is not intrinsically the problem<p>People keep saying that, and I personally agree that there are other related problems that are bigger than inequality, but inequality by and of itself <i>is</i> a problem, and a significant one at that.<p>&quot;The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. That&#x27;s very important in poorer countries, but not in the rich developed world. But the differences between us and where we are in relation to each other now matter very much.&quot;[1]<p>And even the wealthy in more unequal societies are less well off than less wealthy people in more equal societies. I think this is an important finding because it is counterintuitive, even surprising.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ted.com&#x2F;talks&#x2F;richard_wilkinson?language=en" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ted.com&#x2F;talks&#x2F;richard_wilkinson?language=en</a>