The big idea: Inequality is the uneven sharing of what matters — income, wealth, power and opportunities — between people, groups or whole countries.
Not the same as poverty: A country can get richer overall while the gap between rich and poor grows wider.
Inequality is not only about money. It also covers power — who gets to decide — and opportunity — who has the chance to get ahead. These power asymmetries shape who wins and loses from development.
- Economic — gaps in income and wealth (measured by the Gini index).
- Political — gaps in power and voice: who gets to decide.
- Social — gaps by gender, ethnicity, region or group.
- Global — gaps between rich and poor countries, not just within them.
Poverty vs inequality: Poverty is about an absolute floor — not having enough. Inequality is about the gap — how unevenly things are shared. You can cut poverty while inequality rises (if the rich gain faster), or have high inequality with little absolute poverty. They are linked but not the same.
Free preview
This is the free notes preview
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
The most measured form is economic inequality — captured by the Gini index — and it is central to whether development actually reaches people.
Case study — economic inequality and the Gini index: The Gini index scores how unequally income is shared, from 0 (everyone equal) to 1 (one person has everything).
What the Gini index shows
- Some countries grow richer while their Gini rises.
- The gains go mostly to those already at the top, so the poor see little benefit.
- High inequality can mean growth bypasses most people and keeps them poor.
- It concentrates power in a few hands, making politics less fair too.
This is why inequality is so contested in the theme: some see it as a natural, even useful result of development (rewarding effort), while others see it as evidence that development is failing — growth that does not reach people is not real development.
The key point: Inequality is the uneven sharing of income, wealth, power and opportunity, within and between countries. The Gini index shows growth can raise averages while the gap widens, so inequality is central to whether development actually reaches people — and whether power is fairly shared.
Get feedback like a real examiner
Submit your answers and get instant feedback — what you did well, what's missing, and exactly what to write to score full marks.
Is inequality a natural part of development — even a spur to it — or does it prevent real development? A major recurring debate. Weigh it.
'Inequality encourages development'
Some argue a degree of inequality rewards effort and risk-taking, attracts investment, and is an unavoidable by-product of a growing economy — so trying to force equality could slow development.
'Inequality prevents development'
Others argue extreme inequality wastes talent, entrenches power in a few hands, fuels grievance and instability, and means growth never reaches most people — so it blocks genuine, broad-based development.
Two perspectives — weigh them: One view: some inequality encourages development by rewarding effort and following growth. Another view: high inequality prevents development by bypassing the poor and concentrating power. Strong essays evaluate both, often concluding modest inequality may accompany growth but extreme inequality undermines development.
How inequality comes up in Paper 2: A Paper 2 essay might ask whether inequality helps or harms development. Weigh 'it rewards effort' against 'it bypasses the poor', then reach a judgement.
The 15-mark markband (what moves you up)
Bands 1–6
Mostly descriptive; perspectives not identified.
avoid
Bands 7–9
Clear knowledge, but perspectives identified, not explored.
7–9
Bands 10–12
Well-supported argument; perspectives explored.
10–12
Bands 13–15
Balanced, compelling; perspectives explored AND evaluated.
13–15
Evaluate the claim that inequality encourages, rather than prevents, development.
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Common mistakes: 1. Confusing inequality with poverty. One is the gap, one is the floor.
2. Ignoring power inequality. It's not just about money.
3. No real case. Use the Gini / rising inequality amid growth.
4. Quoting Gini figures without reading them. Say what a widening gap does to a society.
5. No judgement. Distinguish modest from extreme inequality.