The Current Global Reality: Poverty and Income Inequality

The distribution of wealth within and between countries is unequal, a reality that has preoccupied economists since their discipline's origins. Poverty and income inequality are intimately tied to health outcomes, including for pediatric neurologic disease. This article provides an overview of the distribution of the global poor and global poverty reduction efforts. The emergence of a global middle class is discussed, as are issues related to income inequality within wealthy nations.