--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Income inequality,” say two leading…" description: "\"“Income inequality,” say two leading scientists who have studied twenty-four developed countries, “makes us all less happy with our lives, even if we’r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/rutger-bregman-2463_income-inequality_income-inequality-say-two-leading-scient_1394936.jpg" --- # Income inequality,” say two leading scientists who have… ![“Income inequality,” say two leading scientists who have studied twenty-four developed countries, “makes us all less happy with our lives, even if we’re relatively well-off.” quote by Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/rutger-bregman-2463_income-inequality_income-inequality-say-two-leading-scient_1394936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/rutger-bregman-2463_income-inequality_income-inequality-say-two-leading-scient_1394936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/rutger-bregman-2463_income-inequality_income-inequality-say-two-leading-scient_1394936.jpg) > ““Income inequality,” say two leading scientists who have studied twenty-four developed countries, “makes us all less happy with our lives, even if we’re relatively well-off.”” [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Higher gaps between rich and poor lower overall life satisfaction, even among those who are relatively affluent. **In simple terms:** Economic gaps reduce happiness for everyone. Key Takeaway Address inequality to improve societal well‑being. Themes equality well‑being economics social policy happiness Mood concerned analytical hopeful Type analytical policy social commentary When to use this quote - public policy debates - urban planning - corporate responsibility - community programs - education reforms Key Concepts income distribution social cohesion psychology of happiness Questions to Reflect On - How does personal wealth interact with societal inequality? - What policies most effectively reduce the happiness gap? A Different Perspective Inequality may be mitigated by growth, but other factors also affect happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Developed countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developed-countries/) [Income inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income-inequality/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Inequality Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality-say-2655221/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists/) [Scientists Studied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists-studied-4872051/) ## Related quotes > [“Recently, the International Monetary Fund published a report which revealed that too much inequality even inhibits economic growth.22 Perhaps the most fascinating finding, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/recently-the-international-monetary-fund-published-a-report-which/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [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/) > [Let us wage a moral and political war against the gross wealth and income inequality... ...let us understand that when we stand together, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/let-us-wage-a-moral-and-political-war-against-the-gross-wealth-and/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I've been talking about income inequality in America for twenty years, and when I was president, people didn't pay much attention to it, probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-ve-been-talking-about-income-inequality-in-america-for-twenty-years/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I don't support everything Bernie Sanders supports, but I support most of it: universal health care, reining in Wall Street, fighting climate change, reversing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/i-don-t-support-everything-bernie-sanders-supports-but-i-support-most/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [“The sharp reduction in income inequality that we observe in almost all the rich countries between 1914 and 1945 was due above all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/the-sharp-reduction-in-income-inequality-that-we-observe-in-almost/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [Talking about income inequality, even if you're not on the Forbes 400 list, can make us feel uncomfortable. It feels less positive, less optimistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/talking-about-income-inequality-even-if-you-re-not-on-the-forbes-400/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [A holistic solution to income inequality is going to take a lot of work, but every time you prove that one of the strands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/a-holistic-solution-to-income-inequality-is-going-to-take-a-lot-of/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [We ought to be opening up our borders to skilled labour from all parts of the world because \[the state of the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/we-ought-to-be-opening-up-our-borders-to-skilled-labour-from-all/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [There are two economic realities in America in 2016. There's been a record six straight years of job growth, and new census numbers show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-holt/there-are-two-economic-realities-in-america-in-2016-there-s-been-a/) [Lester Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-holt/) > [I think that on the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders talks about income inequality and poverty alleviation, and those issues are so important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-think-that-on-the-democratic-side-bernie-sanders-talks-about-income/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [Income inequality has gotten worse under President Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/income-inequality-has-gotten-worse-under-president-barack-obama/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [ Skilled shortages in America exist because we are shielding our skilled labor force from world competition. \[Visa quotas\] have been substituted for the wage… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/skilled-shortages-in-america-exist-because-we-are-shielding-our/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [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/) > [President Obama believes that income inequality is one of the most pressing matters facing the nation. If we are going to be a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/president-obama-believes-that-income-inequality-is-one-of-the-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Rutger Bregman > [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“When Lehman Brothers collapsed on September 15, 2008, and inaugurated the biggest crisis since the 1930s, there were no real alternatives to hand. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/when-lehman-brothers-collapsed-on-september-15-2008-and-inaugurated/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I think one of the most important facts of basic income would be that it's not only a redistribution of income, but also of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-facts-of-basic-income-would-be-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The great thing about money is that people can use it to buy things they need instead of things self-appointed experts think they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-great-thing-about-money-is-that-people-can-use-it-to-buy-things/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The idea that the GDP still serves as an accurate gauge of social welfare is one of the most widespread myths of our times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-idea-that-the-gdp-still-serves-as-an-accurate-gauge-of-social/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Most of Mark Zuckerberg's income is just rent collected off the millions of picture and video posts that we give away daily for free.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/most-of-mark-zuckerberg-s-income-is-just-rent-collected-off-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“To calculate the GDP, numerous data points have to be linked together and hundreds of wholly subjective choices made regarding what to count and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/to-calculate-the-gdp-numerous-data-points-have-to-be-linked-together/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Countless studies have shown that people who work less are more satisfied with their lives.37 In a recent poll conducted among working women, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/countless-studies-have-shown-that-people-who-work-less-are-more/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Precisely when we should be shouldering the historic task of investing this rich, safe, and healthy existence with meaning, we’ve buried utopia instead. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/precisely-when-we-should-be-shouldering-the-historic-task-of/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/believing-in-the-good-of-humanity-is-a-revolutionary-act-it-means/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Poor people aren't making dumb decisions because they are dumb, but because they're living in a context in which anyone would make dumb decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/poor-people-aren-t-making-dumb-decisions-because-they-are-dumb-but/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The bottom line is that wealth can be concentrated somewhere, but that doesn’t also mean that’s where it’s being created. This is just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-bottom-line-is-that-wealth-can-be-concentrated-somewhere-but-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Recently, the International Monetary Fund published a report which revealed that too much inequality even inhibits economic growth.22 Perhaps the most fascinating finding, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/recently-the-international-monetary-fund-published-a-report-which/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Not coincidentally, the countries with the shortest workweeks also have the largest number of volunteers and the most social capital.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/not-coincidentally-the-countries-with-the-shortest-workweeks-also/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [It matters so much that from a very early age we encounter different kinds of different people, because that's what real life should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/it-matters-so-much-that-from-a-very-early-age-we-encounter-different/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) [Explore all 164 Rutger Bregman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## More Developed countries quotes > [I find it interesting that many of the people who want to restrict fossil fuels live in well-developed countries where abundant and affordable energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/i-find-it-interesting-that-many-of-the-people-who-want-to-restrict/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [I think one big improvement would be if we somehow made it cheaper and easier for developing countries to learn from the sad experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/i-think-one-big-improvement-would-be-if-we-somehow-made-it-cheaper/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [The developing countries must be able to take a more active part in trade negotiations, through technical assistance and support from the developed countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/the-developing-countries-must-be-able-to-take-a-more-active-part-in/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [Developed countries should support developing countries in tackling climate change. This not only is their responsibility, but also serves their long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-jintao/developed-countries-should-support-developing-countries-in-tackling/) [Hu Jintao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-jintao/) > [A primary task of management in the developed countries in the decades ahead will be to make knowledge productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/a-primary-task-of-management-in-the-developed-countries-in-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Many people today in the developed countries are so far removed from poverty and suffering and starvation that they lack empathy for the sufferings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/many-people-today-in-the-developed-countries-are-so-far-removed-from/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [While the technology revolution has yet to reach far into the households of those in developing countries, this is certainly another area where more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bellamy/while-the-technology-revolution-has-yet-to-reach-far-into-the/) [Carol Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bellamy/) > [Depopulation should be the highest priority of foreign policy towards the third world, because the US economy will require large and increasing amounts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/depopulation-should-be-the-highest-priority-of-foreign-policy-towards/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Certainly I'll never be able to put myself in the situation that people growing up in the less developed countries are in. I've gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/certainly-i-ll-never-be-able-to-put-myself-in-the-situation-that/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [If the current birth rate, which is the lowest in the major developed countries, continues, there will be no Japanese. Who will pay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rogers/if-the-current-birth-rate-which-is-the-lowest-in-the-major-developed/) [Jim Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rogers/) > [ It \[also\] lives on its history, now, to some extent: its achievements \[ of the Commonwealth\] in Rhodesia and South Africa, which were enormous.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/it-also-lives-on-its-history-now-to-some-extent-its-achievements-of/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [Of course, aid is only one small part of international development. Some of the greatest benefits to the world's poorest can be achieved through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/of-course-aid-is-only-one-small-part-of-international-development/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [What we ask of the developed countries is to let the Third World find a third way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-marcos/what-we-ask-of-the-developed-countries-is-to-let-the-third-world-find/) [Ferdinand Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-marcos/) > [Medical costs are of concern, both in developing and developed countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/medical-costs-are-of-concern-both-in-developing-and-developed/) [A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/) > [The majority of people in developed countries spend at least some time interacting with the Internet, and Governments are abusing that necessity in secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-majority-of-people-in-developed-countries-spend-at-least-some/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Browse all 43 Developed countries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developed-countries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Income inequality,” say two leading scientists who have studied twenty-four developed countries, “makes us all less happy with our lives, even if we’re relatively well-off.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rutger Bregman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/income-inequality-say-two-leading-scientists-who-have-studied-twenty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Developed countries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/income-inequality-say-two-leading-scientists-who-have-studied-twenty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/rutger-bregman-2463_income-inequality_income-inequality-say-two-leading-scient_1394936.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/rutger-bregman-2463_income-inequality_income-inequality-say-two-leading-scient_1394936.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/rutger-bregman-2463_income-inequality_income-inequality-say-two-leading-scient_1394936.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Income inequality,” say two leading scientists who have studied twenty-four developed countries, “makes us…” — Rutger Bregman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rutger Bregman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Income inequality,” say two leading scientists...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/income-inequality-say-two-leading-scientists-who-have-studied-twenty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/income-inequality-say-two-leading-scientists-who-have-studied-twenty/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```