Fewer than 60,000 people – 0.001% of the world’s population – control three times as much wealth as the entire bottom half of humanity, according to a report that argues global inequality has reached such extremes that urgent action has become essential.

The authoritative World Inequality Report 2026, based on data compiled by 200 researchers, also found that the top 10% of income-earners earn more than the other 90% combined, while the poorest half captures less than 10% of total global earnings.

Wealth – the value of people’s assets – was even more concentrated than income, or earnings from work and investments, the report found, with the richest 10% of the world’s population owning 75% of wealth and the bottom half just 2%.

In almost every region, the top 1% was wealthier than the bottom 90% combined, the report found, with wealth inequality increasing rapidly around the world.

“The result is a world in which a tiny minority commands unprecedented financial power, while billions remain excluded from even basic economic stability,” the authors, led by Ricardo Gómez-Carrera of the Paris School of Economics, wrote.

  • fonix232@fedia.io
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    2 days ago

    Holy shit is this instance full of idiots.

    Who the fuck said anything about petit bourgeoisie? A high EARNER still has to work, dipshit. Still has to produce something to get paid. We’re not talking about landlords here, or shitheads living off investments, but people like DOCTORS. Do you consider medical professionals “petit bourgeoisie” just because they earn more than the average?

    And even high earners can be in the “gee I hope I can eat this week” category.

    But please do skip my point about cost of living being important when it comes to wages, and fight a completely made up argument you put in my mouth because fictional BS is easier to fight than what I actually said.

    • Maeve@kbin.earth
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      2 days ago

      Do you consider medical professionals “petit bourgeoisie” just because they earn more than the average?

      Yes.

        • Maeve@kbin.earth
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          1 day ago

          Sounds like you need to look at their lifestyles and whether sick and dying are turned away due to no money or insurance.

            • Maeve@kbin.earth
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              1 day ago

              Sadly, private practices also do that. I have neighbors who are “noncompliant” because they can sometimes scrape together enough for either a single visit, or meds, usually not both.

              We often have to pass around donation envelope to help a neighbor afford a visit and/or prescription, and if more than one is sick at a time, those donations aren’t enough and have to be split.

              • Sunflier@lemmy.world
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                23 hours ago

                Private practices have a lot of money to pay for insurance: medical-malpractice insurance, insurance related to the building (fire, storm, robbery, etc.), insurance related to employment, and so on.