## Unequal = Indebted

_IMF Podcasts, December 8, 2011_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Unequal = Indebted](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2017/11/10/unequal-indebted)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2017/11/10/unequal-indebted/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2017/11/10/unequal-indebted/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2017/11/10/unequal-indebted/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: December 8, 2011

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### Central findings and argument
- For the last three decades, in many countries, the rich have become ever richer, while the vast majority have seen their incomes stagnate.
- This increasing income inequality has been coupled with ever greater debt burdens.
- IMF economists draw a link between higher inequality and increased debt.
- Michael Kumhof, IMF Research Dept, identifies similarities between the Great Depression (food lines during the Great Depression, 1930, cited) and the current crisis.

### Key themes discussed in the episode
- The evolution of income distribution over the last three decades and its macroeconomic implications.
- The relationship between rising inequality and rising household and/or national indebtedness.
- Historical parallels used to contextualize contemporary financial stress (reference to the Great Depression, 1930).

### Participants and production
- Michael Kumhof, IMF Research Dept — contributor presenting the IMF economists’ analysis linking inequality and debt.
- Bruce Edwards — produces the IMF podcast program; award-winning audio producer and journalist who has covered armed conflicts, social unrest, and natural disasters; believes economists have an important role in solving the world's problems and aims to showcase their research in IMF podcasts.
- Rhoda Metcalfe — independent journalist and audio producer.

### Date
- December 8, 2011

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## Content in this bundle

- [Unequal (MP3)](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-podcast/imported-podcast-mp3/external/podcast/2011/unequal.mp3){rel="external" type="audio/mpeg"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2017/11/10/unequal-indebted_