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| World Inequality Lab | |
|---|---|
| Name | World Inequality Lab |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Founders | Thomas Piketty; Emmanuel Saez; Gabriel Zucman |
| Type | Research institute |
| Location | Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; London |
| Headquarters | Paris |
| Fields | Income inequality; Wealth distribution; Taxation |
World Inequality Lab
The World Inequality Lab is an international research group focusing on global income and wealth inequality, founded by prominent economists and scholars associated with institutions such as École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, London School of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, Paris School of Economics and University of Oxford. Its work is closely connected to high-profile researchers and public debates involving figures like Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman, Angus Deaton, Branko Milanović and institutions including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations and European Central Bank. The Lab aggregates historical data, produces collaborative analyses, and disseminates findings through global datasets used by policymakers, journalists and academic forums such as American Economic Association meetings and World Economic Forum panels.
The Lab emerged from collaborative projects initiated by Thomas Piketty and colleagues following the publication of works like "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" and subsequent debates involving scholars such as Anthony Atkinson, Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz, Daron Acemoglu and Esther Duflo. Early efforts integrated national tax-record studies from teams led by Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman alongside historical series compiled by researchers including Branko Milanović, Francesco Caselli, James Robinson and Kenneth Sokoloff. Institutional partnerships formed with universities and labs at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Columbia University, Yale University and regional centers in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Major milestones include coordinated releases of global tables and datasets presented at venues like the International Economic Association conferences, Royal Economic Society meetings and policy briefings at the European Parliament.
The Lab operates as a collaborative network with researchers affiliated to entities such as Paris School of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, London School of Economics, Sciences Po, École Polytechnique and national statistical offices like Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain), INSEE and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service-linked research partners. Funding and support have come from academic grants and foundations linked to European Research Council awards, philanthropic organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, research councils including UK Research and Innovation, and collaborations with multilateral agencies including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Governance involves editorial boards and scientific advisory groups composed of economists and historians affiliated with University of Chicago, Stanford University, New York University and regional universities in Brazil, India and South Africa.
The Lab's methodology synthesizes administrative tax data, household surveys, national accounts and historical archives, drawing on techniques advanced by scholars like Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman, Thomas Piketty, Tony Atkinson and Alan B. Krueger. Its statistical framework reconciles sources from institutions such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Eurostat, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Federal Reserve, Banco de España and national revenue agencies, while engaging with methodological debates involving Angus Deaton, Ole Rogeberg, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer. The Lab employs inequality metrics popularized in literature by Amartya Sen, Vilfredo Pareto, Corrado Gini and uses modern decomposition techniques associated with Thomas Lemieux, Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz. Data harmonization protocols reference historical series compiled by Simon Kuznets, Herman Daly and archival projects at institutions like British Library and Bibliothèque nationale de France.
The Lab produces the World Inequality Database and global reports synthesizing work by researchers affiliated with Paris School of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, London School of Economics and partner universities such as Harvard University and Columbia University. Notable publications include collaborative datasets and papers coauthored by Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman, Thomas Piketty, and contributions from scholars like Branko Milanović, Francisco Rozo, Facundo Alvaredo and Tony Atkinson (economist). Outputs are disseminated through channels including American Economic Review-style venues, working papers at NBER, policy briefs to the International Monetary Fund and interactive tools used by media outlets such as The Economist, Financial Times, The New York Times, Le Monde and El País.
Findings from the Lab have informed debates involving policymakers from institutions like the European Commission, U.S. Treasury Department, Paris City Hall, Brazilian Ministry of Finance and international forums including the World Economic Forum and United Nations General Assembly. Its datasets have been cited by scholars such as Joseph Stiglitz, Paul Krugman, Daron Acemoglu, Esther Duflo, Angus Deaton and used in curricula at University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Harvard University and professional training at IMF Institute. Media coverage by outlets including BBC, CNN, The Guardian and Der Spiegel has amplified its influence in debates about progressive taxation, wealth taxes and redistribution policies discussed in chambers like the French National Assembly and debates around treaties such as the OECD tax negotiations.
The Lab's methods and conclusions have been critiqued by researchers and commentators including Jason Furman, Martin Feldstein, Lawrence Summers, Thomas Sargent, Gary Becker and other economists who dispute data adjustments, top-income estimations and policy prescriptions like wealth taxes advocated by Thomas Piketty and Gabriel Zucman. Debates have occurred in academic forums such as Econometrica responses, panels at American Economic Association meetings and opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, involving methodological counterarguments from scholars at National Bureau of Economic Research, Institute of Economic Affairs and conservative think tanks like Cato Institute. Controversies have touched on data access from national revenue agencies, attribution of historical series, and the political use of findings in campaigns linked to parties such as La France Insoumise, Partido dos Trabalhadores and policy platforms in United States presidential elections.
Category:Research institutes