Inequality Studies from the Global South

This book offers an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to thinking about inequality, and to understanding how inequality is produced and reproduced in the global South. Without the safety net of the various Northern welfare states, inequality in the global South is not merely a socio-economic problem, but an existential threat to the social contract that underpins the democratic state and society itself. Only a response that is firmly grounded in the context of the global South can hope to address this problem. This collection brings together scholars from across the globe, with a particular focus on the global South, to address broad thematic areas such as the conceptual and methodological challenges of measuring inequality; the political economy of inequality in the global South; inequality in work, households and the labour market; and inequalities in land, spaces and cities. The book concludes by suggesting alternatives for addressing inequality in the global South and around the world. The pioneering ideas and theories put forward by this volume make it essential reading for students and researchers of global inequality across the fields of sociology, economics, law, politics, global studies and development studies.

David Francis is Deputy Director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Imraan Valodia is Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management and Director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Edward Webster is Distinguished Research Professor at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Part 1: Introductions and Conceptual Questions on Inequality in the South 1. Towards a Southern Approach to Inequality Edward Webster et al. 2. Is Hierarchy the Same as Inequality? Dilip Menon 3. Inequality Under Globalization James K. Galbraith and Jaehee Choi Part 2: The Political Economy of Inequality in the Global South 4. A Survey of Trends in Macroeconomic Policy and Development in the Global South: From World War II to the Global Financial Crisis and Beyond Vishnu Padayachee 5. Economic Power and Regulation: The Political Economy of Metals, Machinery and Equipment Industries in South Africa Sumayya Goga et al. 6. Inegalitarian Growth Alexandre de Freitas Barbosa et al. Part 3: Work, Households and the Labour Market 7. The Crisis of Social Reproduction in Petty Commodity Production and Large-scale Mining Hibist Kassa 8. Vocational Education and Inequalities in Transitions from Education to Work in Three African Countries Stephanie Allais Part 4: Land, Space and Cities 9. Investigating Infrastructures of Urban Inequality Margot Rubin et al. 10. Social Reproduction at End Moments Akua Britwam and Ben Scully Part 5: Alternatives 11. Minimum Wages Patrick Belser et al. 12. Building Counter Power in the Workplace Edward Webster 13. Global Inequality and Human Rights Radhika Balakrishnan 14. Conclusion David Francis et al.