--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people say we have this inequality…" description: "\"Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they get more. But t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_inequality_some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality_72077.jpg" --- # Some people say we have this inequality because some… ![“Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they get more. But then you look at the people who are at the top, and you realize they're not the people who have transformed our economy, our society.” quote by Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_inequality_some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality_72077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_inequality_some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality_72077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_inequality_some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality_72077.jpg) > “Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they get more. But then you look at the people who are at the top, and you realize they're not the people who have transformed our economy, our society.” [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic inequality is often justified by merit, yet those at the top rarely drive the fundamental transformations of the economy or society. **In simple terms:** Meritocratic justification of wealth is misleading. Key Takeaway Wealth isn't always linked to societal contribution. Themes Economic inequality Meritocracy Social justice Wealth distribution Economic transformation Mood Critical Reflective Type Analytical Political When to use this quote - Policy debates on taxation - Corporate leadership critiques - Public discussions on wealth gaps Key Concepts Merit vs. outcome Structural advantage Value of contribution Practical Applications - Designing progressive tax reforms - Educating about structural inequality Questions to Reflect On - What metrics should define 'contribution' to society? - How can policy align wealth distribution with actual societal impact? A Different Perspective Some argue that market rewards reflect individual effort and risk, suggesting that wealth accumulation is a legitimate outcome of personal initiative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t be deceived when they tell you things are better now. Even if there’s no poverty to be seen because the poverty’s been hidden.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-marat/don-t-be-deceived-when-they-tell-you-things-are-better-now-even-if/) [Jean-Paul Marat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-marat/) > [There is no off-roading to solve income inequality for people of color. They must have broadband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-wiley/there-is-no-off-roading-to-solve-income-inequality-for-people-of/) [Maya Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-wiley/) > [Our railways maintain a healthy economy and society. They keep businesses running and families close. They're a vital public service and must be treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/our-railways-maintain-a-healthy-economy-and-society-they-keep/) [Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/) > [Labour want to control all parts of the economy and society so that they can pursue the politics of envy. It would leave us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/labour-want-to-control-all-parts-of-the-economy-and-society-so-that/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [A 'mixed economy' is a society in the process of committing suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-mixed-economy-is-a-society-in-the-process-of-committing-suicide/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I think the less fracking there is, the better it is for the economy and society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/i-think-the-less-fracking-there-is-the-better-it-is-for-the-economy/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [The focus of all life is its economy, the mode through which every living creature produces its material existence. I know no other criterion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-hess/the-focus-of-all-life-is-its-economy-the-mode-through-which-every/) [Moses Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-hess/) > [We don't know if our economy, our society, could support the social and the human and the economic cost of an insurgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/we-don-t-know-if-our-economy-our-society-could-support-the-social-and/) [Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/) > [Entrepreneurship rests on a theory of economy and society. The theory sees change as normal and indeed as healthy. And it sees the major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/entrepreneurship-rests-on-a-theory-of-economy-and-society-the-theory/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The over-60s have to be seen less as receivers - of welfare, of help - or targeted consumers, and more as participants, both in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-de-croo/the-over-60s-have-to-be-seen-less-as-receivers-of-welfare-of-help-or/) [Alexander De Croo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-de-croo/) > [People on left have to better understand what are the benefits of inequality, and people on right have to understand better what the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-deaton/people-on-left-have-to-better-understand-what-are-the-benefits-of/) [Angus Deaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-deaton/) > [How can one not speak about war, poverty, and inequality when people who suffer from these afflictions don't have a voice to speak?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/how-can-one-not-speak-about-war-poverty-and-inequality-when-people/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [When I find too many puzzles about the way explanations are given about why there is inequality - why people who work the hardest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/when-i-find-too-many-puzzles-about-the-way-explanations-are-given/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) > [Probably the most extreme form of inequality is between people who are alive and people who are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/probably-the-most-extreme-form-of-inequality-is-between-people-who/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [Becoming involved in sports and traveling the world and seeing how people of color were treated around the world, and America being such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/becoming-involved-in-sports-and-traveling-the-world-and-seeing-how/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) ## More by Joseph Stiglitz > [I grew up in a family in which political issues were often discussed, and debated intensely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-grew-up-in-a-family-in-which-political-issues-were-often-discussed/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [But individuals and firms spend an enormous amount of resources acquiring information, which affects their beliefs; and actions of others too affect their beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/but-individuals-and-firms-spend-an-enormous-amount-of-resources/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [China, with its large emerging middle class, is among the big beneficiaries of globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/china-with-its-large-emerging-middle-class-is-among-the-big/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Trickle-down economics is a myth. Enriching corporations - as the TPP would - will not necessarily help those in the middle, let alone those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/trickle-down-economics-is-a-myth-enriching-corporations-as-the-tpp/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [It's actually a tribute to the quality of economics teaching that they have persuaded so many generations of students to believe in so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/it-s-actually-a-tribute-to-the-quality-of-economics-teaching-that/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [In an economy, when the government spends more and invests in the economy, that money circulates, and recirculates again and again. 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So the war did help the US economy to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/world-war-ii-was-really-unusual-because-america-was-in-the-great/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Moreover, because we chose to finance the way by borrowing, our deficits and debt has soared, and this means we have less room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/moreover-because-we-chose-to-finance-the-way-by-borrowing-our/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [I've always been sceptical about the notion that the market is a person you can engage in an argument with, and that that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-ve-always-been-sceptical-about-the-notion-that-the-market-is-a/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The striking thing about America is - it's historically, extraordinary unusual,I don't of any other instance - is that productivity of workers and wages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-striking-thing-about-america-is-it-s-historically-extraordinary/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Obama had to save the banks, sure, but he didn't have to save the bankers and the shareholders and the bondholders. We broke the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/obama-had-to-save-the-banks-sure-but-he-didn-t-have-to-save-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) [Explore all 251 Joseph Stiglitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## More Inequality quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Inequality is pervasive but invisible. It's hard to see. You need a sort of tool to make it visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/inequality-is-pervasive-but-invisible-it-s-hard-to-see-you-need-a/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [It clearly follows that to make men moral it is necessary to make their social environment moral. And that can be done in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/it-clearly-follows-that-to-make-men-moral-it-is-necessary-to-make/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [Income inequality isn't sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-c-pelosi/income-inequality-isn-t-sexy/) [Alexandra C. Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-c-pelosi/) > [Yeah, maybe that's the way to solve the gender inequality that's naturally in relationships: to have a lot more power in the woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-song/yeah-maybe-that-s-the-way-to-solve-the-gender-inequality-that-s/) [Celine Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-song/) > [“In no country does the average income give the right picture of how people live but in a country with higher inequality it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/in-no-country-does-the-average-income-give-the-right-picture-of-how/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I made an effort to ensure social safeguards. But our economy has to grow - and Chile, with a population of 17 million, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/i-made-an-effort-to-ensure-social-safeguards-but-our-economy-has-to/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) > [I don't know another way to try to deal with income inequality than actually having entrepreneurs and inventors creating the kind of jobs that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/i-don-t-know-another-way-to-try-to-deal-with-income-inequality-than/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [Unequal distribution of income is an excessively uneconomic method of getting the necessary saving done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/unequal-distribution-of-income-is-an-excessively-uneconomic-method-of/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [I don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-don-t-see-much-future-for-the-americans-it-s-a-decayed-country-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say this is mine and found people simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-first-person-who-having-enclosed-a-plot-of-land-took-it-into-his/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The more I've been able to learn about gay rights and equal pay and gender equity and racial inequality, the more that it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/the-more-i-ve-been-able-to-learn-about-gay-rights-and-equal-pay-and/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [Communism is inequality, but not as property is. Property is exploitation of the weak by the strong. Communism is exploitation of the strong by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/communism-is-inequality-but-not-as-property-is-property-is/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) [Browse all 1,442 Inequality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they get more. 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