Lane Kenworthy’s article “Is Equality Feasible?” (Contexts, Summer 2007) is a great article to get students thinking about inequality in society. Below are some questions that you can use with the article.
1) What is the Gini coefficient and how can it be used to influence social policy?
2) Summarize the argument that inequality contributes to affluence in a given country. What is the equality/jobs trade-off?
3) The author talks about the non-pay benefits of employment. Can these benefits be accomplished in other ways? What are some possible consequences of not having access to these benefits (both for individuals and society)?
4) Beyond poverty, how does unemployment affect societies?
5) Is equality feasible?