New York - A new United Nations report advocates that governments use fiscal and labour
market policies to reduce income inequality, noting that this not only leads to
social benefits but will spur economic growth and development.

Produced by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the "Trade
and Development Report 2012" says that recent experience, especially in Latin
America and other developing countries, suggests that progressive taxation and
rising public spending can strongly contribute to the process of inclusive
growth.

The report adds that this approach would reduce income inequality while also
providing the prospect of expanding demand that is needed for firms to increase
investment.

Trends over the last 30 years show income inequality increasing both within
countries and between them, UNCTAD says in a news release. The share of wages in
total income has fallen in most developed and in many developing countries,
including by five percentage points or more in Australia, the United Kingdom and
the United States, and by 10 percentage points or more in France, Germany and
Ireland.

In several countries, the richest one per cent of the population now accounts
for 10 to 20 per cent of national wealth. The report notes, however, that
governments can use fiscal and labour market policies to reduce income
inequality.

“This goal is worthwhile not only for reasons of fairness and social welfare,
but because it would improve economic performance,” notes UNCTAD.

More even income distribution also pays off over the long term, it contends,
because high inequality deprives many people of access to education and credit,
and prevents the expansion of domestic markets. Over years and decades, that
amounts to an enormous waste of a country’s economic potential.

“Thus, a better income distribution pattern would help stimulate and sustain
economic growth in the short run and would provide stronger incentives for
investment, innovation and job creation in the long run,” says the report.

In its review of trends in the global economy, the report warns that growth is
slowing in all regions of the world, “hamstrung in part by austerity measures
that are hampering demand in the major developed-country markets, thus cutting
the export prospects of developing countries.”

Global growth fell from 4.1 per cent in 2010 to 2.7 per cent in 2011, according
to the report, with a further decline expected by UNCTAD – to below 2.5 per cent
– in 2012.