Wealth Inequality and Elites in the Global South

Wealth inequality is becoming more pronounced and persistent across many countries, but in contrast to income inequality, very little is known about the mechanisms and structures that create and maintain it. A greater understanding of the economic and social drivers of wealth inequality is essential to identify viable solutions. The Southern Center for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg has designed an interdisciplinary research agenda focusing on the interrelation between wealth concentration and elites. In the context of this research, elites are defined as those who own a disproportionate share of economic resources. The research will be conducted in Brazil, India and South Africa and brings together researchers in economics, law as well as sociology. The Southern Center for Inequality Studies aims to initiate a larger academic interest in wealth inequality and to inform policy makers and civil society about a new set of political, economic and social pathways to potential reform.