UNU-WIDER UNU-WIDER Launches First Global Wealth Study

UNU-WIDER has recently published the first comprehensive study of its kind on global wealth 'Personal Wealth from a Global Perspective'. Worldwide, it is estimated that the richest 2% own more than half of total global wealth, and that this elite group resides almost exclusively in North America, Western Europe, and rich Asia-Pacific countries.

The volume, that highlights the extent of the gap between rich and poor, will be launched in the UK on Tuesday 24 March, 2009 at the London School of Economics.

The Director of UNU-WIDER Anthony Shorrocks and the editor of 'Personal Wealth from a Global Perspective' James B. Davies (Director of the Economic Policy Research Institute, University of Western Ontario), Sir Anthony Atkinson (Oxford University) and Wim Naudé (UNU-WIDER) will speak at the launch, along with others, and are available for interview during and after the launch.

From rural Ethiopia to Southern California, this UNU-WIDER volume is the first truly global study of its kind and covers all major components of household wealth, including assets and debts, land, buildings and other property. It documents not just wealth in rich nations, but also in developing countries like China and India.

The situation in Latin America and Africa is also examined, along with Russia and other transition economies. The volume details the controversial enrichment of Russia’s oligarchs since the fall of Communism and points to Russia being the most unequal society on earth in terms of wealth distribution.

• Personal Wealth from a Global Perspective book details here.

• Details of research on Personal Assets from a Global Perspective.

• Media release details here.

• New Global Wealth Study - Poster (310.77 kilobytes)