Primrose Mulenga hangs laundry outside her home in South Africa. Photo: Alexa Sedge/Oxfam

Economic inequality

The rich only get richer while millions live in poverty. The system must change.

Resisting the Rule of the Rich

Världens 12 rikaste äger mer än 4 miljarder människor gör tillsammans.

To the report

Inequality creates poverty and injustice

De 12 rikaste äger mer än den fattigaste hälften av världens befolkning gör tillsammans. Samtidigt lever miljontals människor i fattigdom, utan tillgång till sina rättigheter, politisk makt och möjligheter. Den extrema ojämlikheten och skillnaderna mellan rika och fattiga underminerar kampen mot fattigdom, skadar ekonomier och skapar allmän frustration. Ojämlika samhällen skapar social oro, politisk instabilitet, kriminalitet och våld.

Economic inequality:

is the result of deliberate policy choices that favor super-rich individuals and corporations, increasing carbon emissions
exacerbates other dimensions of inequality, such as between women and men, and between different ethnicities
is something we need to reduce in order to fight poverty, and build more sustainable and equitable societies

How we work

Our work on economic inequality is both global and local. Below are some examples of how we work.

Research

Several times a year, Oxfam produces research on economic inequality in the world and in Sweden, and the consequences of inequality. In these reports, we also make concrete recommendations to create a world that benefits everyone, not just a few.

Inequality Inc (2024)

Influencing policy

Oxfam influences politicians and governments to adopt policies that are proven to reduce inequality. Some of our standing proposals are to make welfare equal, that governments should keep clear statistics on wealth and economic distribution in their countries, and that governments should tax the wealthiest individuals - who are currently taxed very little, or not at all.

Strengthening workers' rights

Oxfam promotes workers' rights, such as trade union rights, through campaigns and policy advocacy. We also work directly with local communities to empower marginalized groups to generate their own income, for example to help women become economically independent.

Working with businesses

We work directly with companies to ensure that workers and small-scale farmers in global supply chains have decent, dignified jobs without discrimination and where they earn a living wage. With a local presence in the countries and contexts where workers and farmers operate, we have unique insight and trust.

Corporate responsibility

Economic inequality in Sweden

Även i Sverige ökar den ekonomiska ojämlikheten. 46 svenskar äger mer än 8 miljoner människor samtidigt som 730 000 svenskar lever i fattigdom. Svenskarnas löner har inte hängt med inflationen, utom för VD:ar, vars löner ökat. Sverige är även sämst i Norden på att bekämpa ojämlikheten, något som Oxfam beräknade i rapporten Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index 2022.

We call on the Swedish government to introduce policies that reduce inequality, such as improved statistics on the distribution of wealth in the country, taxation of the richest individuals and companies, and a more equal distribution of corporate profits. Read more here.