Economists Urge UK to Join UN Initiative on Global Inequality 2026

Global inequality is a pressing issue that has prompted top economists to urge the UK government to join a new UN initiative. In an open letter, forty prominent progressive academics, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and UCL professor Mariana Mazzucato, call on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to sign the UK up to help create an International Panel on Inequality (IPI). This panel, being developed at the United Nations, aims to provide an independent, trusted global evidence base on the causes and consequences of inequality, alongside analysis of policies that can reduce it.

The Call for a New International Panel on Inequality

The letter, led by Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level, argues that while the Prime Minister's 'Makerfield test' seeks to ensure fairness for places forgotten by Westminster, inequality is also a global issue that becomes more entrenched as the geopolitical climate destabilises. The academics believe that backing the IPI would allow Burnham to 'cement the organising principles of his politics globally.'

The Role of the G20 and UK Leadership

With the UK set to chair the G20 in 2027, the letter highlights a unique opportunity for Burnham to demonstrate leadership on the world stage. The G20 brings together leaders from global south countries such as China, India, and Brazil, as well as traditional G7 powers. Charities, thinktanks, and backbench MPs have been urging the new prime minister to use this platform to reclaim Labour's leadership on global development.

How the IPI Would Work

Echoing the approach of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the new body—to be chaired by Joseph Stiglitz—will track extreme wealth disparities and recommend global policy solutions. Brazil, South Africa, Norway, and Spain have already been involved in setting it up. The IPI would serve as a scientific authority, offering data-driven insights to guide international policy.

These figures illustrate the stark differences in inequality across nations, underscoring the need for a coordinated global response. The IPI would help standardise data and share best practices, enabling countries to learn from each other's successes and failures.

Key Takeaways

• Forty leading academics, including Nobel laureates, support the UK joining the UN's International Panel on Inequality.
• The IPI will function like the IPCC, providing evidence-based analysis on inequality and policy solutions.
• UK's G20 chairmanship in 2027 offers a strategic moment to champion global equality.
• Countries like Brazil, South Africa, Norway, and Spain are already involved in the initiative.

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