Workshop on Reducing Inequality to Promote Social Justice
This ILO workshop brings together global experts to explore the drivers of inequality and identify crucial policy actions to create fairer societies for all.
Background and Objectives of the Workshop
Economic inequality remains one of the most pressing challenges in modern societies, having far-reaching implications for social cohesion, access to opportunities, and overall well-being.
It perpetuates a cycle of poverty and social exclusion, creating barriers to equal opportunities and upward mobility. Therefore, addressing economic inequalities is an essential aspect of pursuing social justice.
In September 2023, the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched a global communication campaign called “This Way to Social Justice”, aiming at intensifying efforts to address inequalities in the world of work.
This workshop aims to further understand the drivers of economic inequality, assess the depth and breadth of inequality across countries and finally identify crucial policy actions to pave the way towards fairer societies for all.
Draft Agenda
| 10:00-10:15 | Opening | Dagmar Walter, Deputy-Director, ILO Research |
| 10:15-11:15 | Meritocracy in the Face of Group Inequality | Rajiv Sethi (Columbia University) and Rohini Somanathan (Delhi School of Economics)
Discussant: Ekkehard Ernst (ILO) |
| 11:15-11:30 | Coffee break | |
| 11:30-12:30 | What is Driving Wealth Inequality in the United States of America? The Role of Productivity, Taxation and Skills | Rossana Merola (ILO), Ekkehard Ernst (ILO), François Langot (Le Mans Université) Paris School of Economics, CEPREMAP) and Fabien Tripier (Université Paris Dauphine)
Discussant: Olga Solleder (UNCTAD) |
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch | |
| 14:00-15:00 | Monetary Policy and the Evolution of Wealth Disparity - An Assessment Using US Survey of Consumer Finance Data | Willi Semmler (The New School for Social Research) and Damien Parker (The New School for Social Research)
Discussant: Matthieu Charpe (ILO) |
| 15:00-15:15 | Coffee break | |
| 15:15-16:15 | The Distributional Effects of Stabilization Policy | Alessia Paccagnini (University College Dublin), Michael T. Owyang (St Louis FED) and Laura Jackson Young (Bentley University)
Discussant: Rebecca Stuart (University of Neuchâtel and Geneva Graduate Institute) |
| 16:15-16:30 | Closing remarks | Alessandro Batazzi (ILO) |