I’ve done business in Venezuela. Chavez’s family wound up with billions of dollars. Also I don’t watch TV news. Sod off.

In a free economy, the benefits flow to many people. In a state controlled economy like Venezuela 🇻🇪 the benefits stay with the dictators and their friends.

I’ve lived and worked in so-called developing countries, and, on a more modest scale than Bono, worked on relief efforts. I think Bono is on the right track. And I agree with you that it’s complicated.

Statistically true. In this case you can observe it happening in real life and understand how economic liberty reduces inequality. As Bono said, “I thought that if we just redistributed resources, then we could solve every problem. I now know that’s not true. There’s a funny moment when you realize that as an activist: The off-ramp out of extreme poverty is commerce, it’s entrepreneurial capitalism.”

Government often intends to reduce inequalities but the unintended consequences are the opposite. As Bono said: “I thought that if we just redistributed resources, then we could solve every problem. I now know that’s not true. There’s a funny moment when you realize that as an activist: The off-ramp out of extreme poverty is commerce, it’s entrepreneurial capitalism.”

Granted the slope m is not very steep, but it would indicate a general trend correlating economic freedom with equality of opportunity, hence lower Gini coefficient.

The Piketty-Saez data ignore changes in tax law and fail to count noncash compensation and Social Security benefits.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/phil-gramm-and-michael-solon-how-to-distort-income-inequality-1415749856

The operative word on that chart is “pre-tax“. In the United States for example, things get less unequal after everyone pays their taxes. In Latin America, where I lived and worked, the tax collection structure is far less effective and efficient than the United States IRS. PS to those who think the rich don’t pay enough taxes in the US, look it up. PPS to those wondering if I just used “efficient““ IRS“ in the same sentence, I did, but everything is relative.

Yes, but nobody ever says that apart from a crime being committed. Which is why OP’s line makes sense.

It worked. Well done.

Right. I was looking for Russia.

If you’re in one of the countries named on the chart, then you’re proving Sisyphus’ point. —> I’m in the US and only use the mobile app.