本文回顾了有关全球财富不平等动态的最新文献。我首先调和美国对财富不平等的现有估计。调查和税收数据均显示,自1980年代以来,财富不平等现象急剧增加,2016年收入最高的1%财富份额约为40%,而1980年代为25%至30%。其次,我讨论了关于全球财富不平等的快速增长的文献。有证据表明全球财富集中度上升:对于中国,欧洲和美国而言,最高的1%财富份额从1980年的28%增加到今天的33%,而最低的75%财富份额徘徊在10%左右。然而,最近的研究可能低估了不平等的程度和加剧,因为金融全球化使人们越来越难以衡量最高的财富。
AbstractThis article reviews the recent literature on the dynamics of global wealth inequality. I first reconcile available estimates of wealth inequality in the United States. Both surveys and tax data show that wealth inequality has increased dramatically since the 1980s, with a top 1% wealth share around 40% in 2016 vs. 25–30% in the 1980s. Second, I discuss the fast growing literature on wealth inequality across the world. Evidence points towards a rise in global wealth concentration: for China, Europe, and the United States combined, the top 1% wealth share has increased from 28% in 1980 to 33% today, while the bottom 75% share hovered around 10%. Recent studies, however, may under-estimate the level and rise of inequality, as financial globalization makes it increasingly hard to measure wealth at the top. I discuss how new data sources (leaks from financial institutions, tax amnesties, and macroeconomic statistics of tax havens) can be leveraged to better capture the wealth of the rich.