Angus Deaton
Over the past two centuries humanity has experienced an unprecedented surge in health and wealth, but this progress has fundamentally relied on creating vast inequalities that leave millions behind.
The dramatic historical increase in life expectancy was driven primarily by the application of new health knowledge, such as the germ theory of disease and public sanitation, rather than simply by rising incomes.
Contrary to popular belief, income growth is not the primary cause of health improvements in developing nations, as many life-saving interventions are inexpensive and rely more on state capacity than economic wealth.
Inequality acts as a dual-edged consequence of progress, serving as an engine that motivates those left behind to demand better resources while also risking political capture by elite groups.