“This slim volume offers ample food for thought to scholars with a serious interest in social or economic inequality. The star contributors— economists, sociologists, political scientists, and philosophers—present concepts, theories, and proposals that will stimulate those outside as well as within their home disciplines. While avoiding the circular reasoning characteristic of the 1960's ‘culture of poverty,’ these accessible essays enlarge the concept of poverty—and, I hope, of poverty research and policy—by elaborating the idea that social justice requires measurable equality of capabilities or opportunities, and not merely of economic resources.”—Robert M. Hauser, University of Wisconsin—Madison
“This impressive collection of essays brings together well-known economists, sociologists, and philosophers to discuss the pressing problems of inequality and poverty. Kanbur and Grusky recognize that these timely and difficult issues can only be dealt with by marshalling the intellectual power of our best minds, looking at poverty through the lens of multiple disciplines.”—Joseph E. Stiglitz