TY - BOOK AU - Watson,William G. TI - The inequality trap: fighting capitalism instead of poverty T2 - UTP insights SN - 9781442637245 (bound) AV - HM821 .W38 2015 U1 - 305 23 PY - 2015///] CY - Toronto PB - University of Toronto Press KW - Equality KW - Capitalism KW - Economics KW - fast N1 - Includes bibliographical references and index N2 - "US President Barack Obama has called economic inequality the "defining issue of our time." It has inspired the "Occupy" movements, made a French economist into a global celebrity, and given us a new expression--the "one percent." But is our preoccupation with inequality really justified? Or wise? In his new book, William Watson argues that focusing on inequality is both an error and a trap. It is an error because much inequality is "good," the reward for thrift, industry, and invention. It is a trap because it leads us to fixate on the top end of the income distribution, rather than on those at the bottom who need help most. In fact, if we respond to growing inequality by fighting capitalism rather than poverty, we may end up both poorer and less equal. Explaining the complexities of modern economics in a clear, accessible style, The Inequality Trap is the must-read rejoinder to the idea that fighting inequality should be our top policy priority."-- ER -