The Atlas of Global Inequalities. Ben Crow
Class 44 Class divisions separate the rich and powerful from those who have little opportunity to gain wealth and influence. Race & Ethnicity 46 Some minority ethnic and religious groups suffer systematic discrimination. Inequalities associated with ethnicity are frequently intertwined with those of gender and poverty. Child Labor 48 Millions of children are employed in paid or household work. Raising wages and reducing poverty is the most effective way of reducing child labor. 4 Inequalities of Access 50 Poverty 52 Poverty remains widespread, but recent studies suggest new avenues for action. Hunger 54 Hunger, is one of the most devastating dimensions of inequality. Children are particularly at risk from its effects. Household Water 56 Poor people and those living in rural areas are least likely to have easy access to safe drinking water. Energy 58 Energy is a prerequisite for economic opportunities and human development that remains inaccessible to many due to poverty, rural location, or lack of infrastructure. Household Fuel 60 Most people in developing countries have access only to biomass and solid fuels for household use. These fuels pose serious health hazards. Mobility 62 The opportunity to travel easily and safely even for short distances is a key indicator of both economic and gender inequality. Digital Divide 64 The digital divide between industrialized and non-industrialized countries constrains the advance of healthcare, education, social freedoms, and livelihoods. 5 Health Inequalities 66 Life Expectancy 68 Societies with higher GDP tend to have higher life expectancy. Societies with greater equality achieve longer life spans than more unequal societies. Maternal Mortality 70 The half a million women who die each year from complications related to pregnancy are mainly from the poorest people in the least developed countries. Child Mortality 72 Children in developing countries become sick and often die of preventable or treatable diseases. Access to Healthcare 74 Access to healthcare is worst in low-income countries, in rural areas and for the poor. The rich benefit most from government health expenditure. Infectious Diseases 76 Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis have a devastating effect on the poorest and most vulnerable people in developing countries.
6 Educational Inequalities 78 Literacy 80 Poverty, poor quality education, and lack of educational opportunity for girls all influence national literacy levels. Barriers to Education 82 Poverty, gender, disability, language, location, and ethnicity constitute major barriers to education. Early Childhood Care & Education 84 Children who are denied access to early childhood care and pre-school education suffer a range of health and educational disadvantages. 7 Environmental Inequalities 86 Climate Change 88 Industrialized countries have historically been the largest carbon emitters, but developing nations and the poor bear the brunt of the resultant climate disasters. Deforestation 90 Rapid deforestation is having a negative environmental impact and threatening the livelihoods of a quarter of the world’s population. Air Pollution & Health 92 Air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, is a significant cause of death and disabling disease. Water & Health 94 A tenth of all disease could be alleviated by improvements in household water, sanitation, and water-resource management. The poor are most likely to lack clean water and sanitation services. 8 Towards Equality 96 9 Data, Definitions & Sources 100 Table 1: Income, Expenditure, & Earnings 102 Table 2: Access to Health & Services 110 Definitions 118 Sources 119 Index 129