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Wealth inequality has been a persistent global issue, with the gap between the richest and the rest widening for decades.

The ranks of billionaires continue to swell while ordinary people grapple with rising inequality, poverty, and the cost-of-living squeeze.

The combined wealth of billionaires now approaches that of the poorest half of the world's population.

While artificial intelligence drives global economic growth, fears mount that its benefits will be concentrated among the wealthy.

At the same time, efforts to battle global poverty are stalling and even in developed countries the middle class are being squeezed by the cost of living crisis.

As the rich get richer is everyone else being left behind?

Published On 22 Jul 202622 Jul 2026

The surge in billionaire wealth coincides with stagnant progress on poverty reduction and a deepening cost-of-living crisis in many nations. While AI and technology fuel economic growth, they risk exacerbating inequality if the gains are not shared widely. The concentration of wealth among a tiny elite raises questions about the sustainability of current economic systems and the social stability they underpin. As of the publication date in July 2026, these trends continue to shape global economic discourse.