--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rising inequality isn’t about who has the…" description: "\"Rising inequality isn’t about who has the knowledge; it’s about who has the power.\" — Paul Krugman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/paul-krugman-2255_inequality_rising-inequality-isn-t-about-who-has-th_2217302.png" --- # Rising inequality isn’t about who has the knowledge; it’s… ![“Rising inequality isn’t about who has the knowledge; it’s about who has the power.” quote by Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/paul-krugman-2255_inequality_rising-inequality-isn-t-about-who-has-th_2217302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/paul-krugman-2255_inequality_rising-inequality-isn-t-about-who-has-th_2217302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/paul-krugman-2255_inequality_rising-inequality-isn-t-about-who-has-th_2217302.png) > “Rising inequality isn’t about who has the knowledge; it’s about who has the power.” [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic power, not just knowledge, drives widening inequality. **In simple terms:** Power, not knowledge, fuels inequality. Key Takeaway Address power imbalances. Themes economics politics inequality Mood critical concerned Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - policy reform - taxation - education access - labor rights - wealth redistribution Key Concepts Power dynamics resource distribution Questions to Reflect On - Who holds the power in your community? - How can knowledge be leveraged to shift power? A Different Perspective Power alone cannot solve structural issues without cultural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Inequality Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality-isn-340708/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Isn Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-knowledge-559159/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-power/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising/) [Rising Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising-inequality-242812/) ## Related quotes > [“In short, this latest attempt to debunk the notion that we’ve become a vastly more unequal society has itself been debunked. And you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-short-this-latest-attempt-to-debunk-the-notion-that-we-ve-become-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is no exaggeration to say that rising inequality has driven many of the 99 percent into a financial ditch. It also helped spawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-frank/it-is-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-rising-inequality-has-driven-many/) [Robert H. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-frank/) > [Rising inequality hasn't really accomplished anything of value for its ostensible beneficiaries, the top one percent. They've all built bigger mansions and staged more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-frank/rising-inequality-hasn-t-really-accomplished-anything-of-value-for/) [Robert H. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-frank/) > [Rising inequality is a cultural and economic cancer on a lot of different levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/rising-inequality-is-a-cultural-and-economic-cancer-on-a-lot-of/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [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/) > [The key to understanding the rise in inequality isn't technology or globalization. It's the power of the moneyed interests to shape the underlying rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-key-to-understanding-the-rise-in-inequality-isn-t-technology-or/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [First come I; my name is Jowett. There's no knowledge but I know it. I am Master of this college: What I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-beeching/first-come-i-my-name-is-jowett-there-s-no-knowledge-but-i-know-it-i/) [Henry Beeching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-beeching/) > [Data isn't information; information isn't knowledge; knowledge isn't wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-lowe/data-isn-t-information-information-isn-t-knowledge-knowledge-isn-t/) [Ian Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-lowe/) > [we should reject the attempt to divert the national conversation away from soaring inequality toward the alleged moral failings of those Americans being left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/we-should-reject-the-attempt-to-divert-the-national-conversation-away/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Rising inequality has changed family dynamics for all socioeconomic groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/rising-inequality-has-changed-family-dynamics-for-all-socioeconomic/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [Rising inequality can create a more highly leveraged economy, and it can then make the economy vulnerable to a crash like 2008.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/rising-inequality-can-create-a-more-highly-leveraged-economy-and-it/) [Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/) > [A moderate tax on robots, even a temporary tax that merely slows the adoption of disruptive technology, seems a natural component of a policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-shiller/a-moderate-tax-on-robots-even-a-temporary-tax-that-merely-slows-the/) [Robert J. Shiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-shiller/) > [Rising inequality is not a law of nature - it's not even a law of economics. It is a consequence of political and economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/rising-inequality-is-not-a-law-of-nature-it-s-not-even-a-law-of/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [We have a reversal of a longstanding trend, from rising inequality across nations and constant or declining inequality within nations, to declining inequality across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/we-have-a-reversal-of-a-longstanding-trend-from-rising-inequality/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [“The three topics of this book - technological change, education, and inequality - are intricately related in a kind of 'race.' During the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-goldin/the-three-topics-of-this-book-technological-change-education-and/) [Claudia Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-goldin/) ## More by Paul Krugman > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Surely I'm not the only person to ask the obvious question: How different, really, is Mr. Madoff's tale from the story of the investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/surely-i-m-not-the-only-person-to-ask-the-obvious-question-how/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The rich are different from you and me: they have more influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-rich-are-different-from-you-and-me-they-have-more-influence/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The Internet’s impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine’s….ten years from now, the phrase “information economy” will sound silly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-internet-s-impact-on-the-economy-has-been-no-greater-than-the-fax/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Not all private equity people are evil. Only some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/not-all-private-equity-people-are-evil-only-some/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [You really have to go searching desperately to find any contemporary examples of good, old-fashioned runaway inflation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/you-really-have-to-go-searching-desperately-to-find-any-contemporary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [However, the fact that an economist offers a theoretical analysis does not and should not automatically command respect. What is needed is some assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/however-the-fact-that-an-economist-offers-a-theoretical-analysis-does/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/politics-determines-who-has-the-power-not-who-has-the-truth/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The key reason executives are paid so much now is that they appoint the members of the corporate board that determines their compensation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-key-reason-executives-are-paid-so-much-now-is-that-they-appoint/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I've always believed in expansionary monetary policy and if necessary fiscal policy when the economy is depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-ve-always-believed-in-expansionary-monetary-policy-and-if-necessary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [...academic credentials are neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for having your ideas taken seriously. If a famous professor repeatedly says stupid things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/academic-credentials-are-neither-a-necessary-nor-a-sufficient/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [It’s not about the budget; it’s about the power...So will the attack on unions succeed? I don’t know. But anyone who cares about retaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/it-s-not-about-the-budget-it-s-about-the-power-so-will-the-attack-on/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [When stock prices are rising, it's called ''momentum investing''; when they are falling, it's called ''panic.''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/when-stock-prices-are-rising-it-s-called-momentum-investing-when-they/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I don't want a job in the administration; I think I'm more effective carping from the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-don-t-want-a-job-in-the-administration-i-think-i-m-more-effective/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Under the gold standard America had no major financial panics other than in 1873, 1884, 1890, 1893, 1907, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/under-the-gold-standard-america-had-no-major-financial-panics-other/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) [Explore all 175 Paul Krugman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## 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. 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