World of Difference: A Moral Perspective on Social Inequality

Public debates tend to view social inequality as resulting from personal decisions, such as those relating to education or lifestyle. Proposed solutions usually involve encouraging individuals to make better choices, but this neglects the importance of social groups and communities in determining individual outcomes. A moral perspective on social inequality questions the fairness of insisting on individual responsibility when members of some groups systematically receive fewer opportunities than others.

The essays in this book have been prepared by experts from different disciplines, ranging from philosophy to engineering, economics to epidemiology. On the basis of recent scientific insights, World of Difference examines how group membership impacts individual outcomes in four key domains: health, education and work, migration, and the environment. This offers a new moral perspective on social inequality that policy makers have previously neglected.