What is inequality? This:

Credit Suisse numbers released in October 2010 show that the richest 0.5 percent of global adults hold well over a third of the world’s wealth. – See more at: http://inequality.org/global-inequality/#sthash.mMH7d4NB.dpuf

Source: Credit Suisse Research Institute

How do we measure it?

The GINI index:

A score of 0 means that every person in that country has exactly the same amount of wealth. A score of 100% means that only one person has all the wealth.

• Why does it matter? Watch this:

Richard Wilkinson: How economic inequality harms societies

Go to Gapminder and check the Gini index of countries to answer the following questions:
(Gapminder / Economy / Poverty & Inequality / Inequality Index (Gini)

• Which country in the world has the highest Gini index?
• 
Which has the lowest?
• 
What is the Gini index of Japan?
• 
Of the United States?
• 
Of your Study Country?

Use those three countries (Japan, US & study country) to answer the following questions:
What is the relationship (gapminder) between Gini index score and:

• Children per women?
• 
CO2 emissions?
• 
Income per person?
• Child Mortality?
• Life Expectancy?

The last question: Why does Japan have such low inequality?