Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences In 2004, non-partisan think tank Demos sponsored a conference in which leading activists, scholars, and community leaders discussed inequality in America. Now, Demos has teamed with The New Press to publish an anthology of essays stemming from the conference. Contributors delve into statistics on economic inequality, the causes of inequality and the erosion of democracy and community. Highlights include Barbara Ehrenreich’s essay “Earth to Wal-Mars” and William Greider’s “Building a Moral Economy.” Demos Senior Fellows James Lardner and David A. Smith co-edited the book, which includes a foreword by Bill Moyers. Hard cover. $25.95. Available from The New Press.
The Impact of Inequality: How to Make Sick Societies Healthier Can economic inequality make you sick? Can social injustice make your neighbors depressed, or your co-workers violent? Social Scientist Richard Wilkinson explores these and other connections between inequality and health in his new book. Wilkinson, who is Professor of Social Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham Medical School, argues that inequality causes stress, which in turn leads to individual sickness as well as higher levels of violence, depression and mistrust in society. Wilkinson backs up his theory with compelling statistics as well as medical and psychological perspectives on his data. Most importantly, Wilkinson suggests that small reductions in inequality can yield large benefits—if only the world’s leaders will effect change. Paperback. $17.95. Available from The New Press.
Worlds Apart: Measuring International and Global Inequality For a big-picture take on inequality, World Bank economist Branko Milanovic analyzed household survey data from more than 100 countries to examine worldwide income distribution. The richest five percent of people receive one-third of total global income, and the huge difference between the richest and the poorest individuals in the world is growing. As lead economist in the World Bank research department, Milanovic focuses his research on income inequality and poverty, and “Worlds Apart” offers a historical perspective on inequality as well as recommendations for how today’s economic disparity should be changed. $29.95. Available from Princeton University Press.
MUSIC
Maria Dunn: We Were Good People Singer-songwriter Maria Dunn has written about social injustice throughout her career, and her latest album, “We Were Good People,” focuses on the working people of Western Canada. In Dunn’s songs, stories about Canadian union organizing, the depression, a hunger march in 1932, the hardships of mining, and more are balanced with a sense of resilience and hope. $17. Available from the Labor Heritage Foundation catalog.
WEBSIGHTING
Mapping out Workers’ Rights Around the World The International Centre for Trade Union Rights has produced a world map showing each country's level of support for the International Labor Organization’s conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining. The Centre, a nongovernmental organization based in London, defends and improves the rights of trade unions and trade unionists throughout the world. The map includes capsule reports on working conditions around the world, as well as updates on workers’ rights to associate freely and form unions. Download a copy of the map or order copies online through the Centre’s website.
