Experts urge G20 to establish an International Panel on Inequality
Wealth inequality has reached emergency levels worldwide, threatening democratic institutions and social cohesion, a committee of experts warned on Tuesday. Led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, the group urged G20 leaders meeting in Johannesburg to create a dedicated international panel modeled on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The report describes an "inequality emergency" that is leaving billions without adequate food and basic security. Key findings include that between 2000 and 2024 the richest 1% captured 41% of newly created global wealth, while only 1% of that new wealth went to the poorest 50% of people. The report also highlights that one in four people now regularly skip meals and that billionaire wealth is at record highs.
While income inequality across individuals declined somewhat in recent decades—largely due to rapid economic growth in China—the report warns of a surge in inherited wealth, with roughly $70 trillion expected to pass to heirs over the next decade. The committee argues that widening wealth concentration undermines trust in institutions, fuels political polarization, and weakens participation among poorer citizens.
What the proposed panel would do
The proposed International Panel on Inequality would:
- Assess the multiple dimensions of inequality—from land ownership and market concentration to tax avoidance and inheritance patterns;
- Provide evidence-based policy options and global best practices for governments and international bodies;
- Monitor progress and quantify the social and economic costs of rising inequality.
Recommended policy measures
To address the crisis, the report recommends a set of concrete actions, including:
- Fair taxation of multinational corporations and the ultra-wealthy;
- Breaking up or regulating monopolies and dominant market players to restore competition;
- Stabilizing essential prices (food, energy) to protect vulnerable households;
- Restructuring debt for highly indebted countries to free resources for social spending;
- Stronger enforcement against tax avoidance and illicit financial flows.
Geopolitics and the risk of a "law of the jungle"
The report cautions that protectionist policies and unilateral trade measures—cited as risks if major economies move away from a rules-based order—could entrench unequal trade, investment and technology patterns. It specifically warns that new tariffs and other disruptive measures could deepen inequality globally.
"Inequality is a choice. It is something we can do something about," Joseph Stiglitz said when presenting the report to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Africa, ranked by the World Bank as the world's most unequal country, hosts G20 leaders on November 22–23 as it concludes its presidency—the first time an African nation has held the role. Stiglitz said he did not expect the incoming U.S. administration to immediately back the panel, but he hopes a majority of countries will join.
Why this matters: The panel would create a centralized, expert-driven mechanism to quantify inequality's causes and consequences and to provide policy roadmaps for governments, international organizations, and civil society. In the view of the authors, recognizing an "inequality emergency" alongside the climate emergency is essential for global stability and inclusive growth.
