Reduction of multidimensional inequalities

Reducing multidimensional inequalities is one of today’s greatest social challenges. In the absence of consideration for collective and common interests, poverty, discrimination, reduced social protection, unequal growth, global crises, and the capture of political power by elites can reinforce the trend towards increasing and persistent multidimensional inequalities. To counter this process, the public sector should be empowered to fully exercise its redistributive function, but binding constraints on public finances, authoritarianism, corruption, and the existence of unobservable needs may reduce the effectiveness of public action, or even trigger non-linear dynamics (that is, situations in which public policies may increase, rather than mitigate, inequalities). Similarly, the market should be able to reabsorb the long-term unemployed, those undergoing precarious forms of employment, and informal workers; however, the existence of a “secondary labor market” seems necessary for the “primary labor market” to function properly (Frere 2013). Consequently, despite the commitment of many countries across the international community to reduce multidimensional inequalities, these are increasing worldwide at all levels, especially in the economic and social sphere.