Africa Pushes for Evidence-based Global Inequality Research

A proposed International Panel on Inequality could give global efforts to understand and reduce inequality a permanent scientific body, but its credibility will depend on whether African realities are properly represented. Brazil, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz backed the proposal in September, while the African Union also endorsed it. The panel would assess inequality’s scale, causes, consequences, and possible policy responses, modeled on the climate-change science panel. Researchers argue that existing global frameworks often rely on conditions in high-income countries that do not reflect Africa’s reality. The proposed African Inequality Review aims to address this gap through African-led research, linked datasets, and collaboration with policymakers. The need is significant: Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for a growing share of the world’s poorest people and seven of the ten most unequal countries. Proponents argue that better evidence could help governments address taxation, assets, informality, infrastructure, and access to opportunity.