Finance Capitalism and Income Inequality in the Contemporary Global Economy

"This book represents a breakthrough in understanding the relationship between inequality and the dominating form of capitalism, financialization. In a comparative study of the USA, South Korea, Argentina and Sweden the links that create income inequality are systematically identified. They are not all uniform, with national political economies mediating. In turn, this study shows how the unequal effects of financialization may be addressed. The book should be read by all those interested in the global economy and its impact on national economies." —Hugh Lauder, Professor of Education and Political Economy, University of Bath, UK. This book explores the causes of rising income inequality within industrialised, developing, and emerging economies. The development of finance capitalism over the last 40 years is charted to highlight how the neoliberal restructuring of national and global economies has driven income inequality. With case studies from the USA, South Korea, Argentina, and Sweden, a comparative analysis is presented to reveal how financialisation facilitates uneven capital accumulation and generates conditions that increase income inequality. This book aims to outline an analytical framework for a financialisation-induced income inequality nexus. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in the political economy and financial economics. Dr. Kuat B. Akizhanov is Director of the Institute of Applied Research of Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a Teaching Fellow at the CERGE-EI Foundation. He also lectures at the KazGUU University and OCSE Academy in Bishkek. He has previously held positions at the University of Birmingham and at the University of Bath.