Fighting against inequality or poverty?

Worldwide poverty has decreased enormously over the last 35 years. While inequality has increased in individual countries, inequality between countries has declined. On balance, this has led to a slight decrease in inequality among people. Capitalism and globalisation have proved to be the most successful poverty reduction programmes in history.

Inequality is different from poverty. And often the fight against poverty is prevented precisely by the fact that the fight against material inequality is proclaimed and quasi religiously exaggerated. Of course every Christian is obliged to fight poverty (Caritas). But there is no duty for him to fight inequality and certainly not not if the fight against inequality hinders or even prevents the fight against poverty.

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