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  2. Who Owns the World's Wealth?

Who Owns the World's Wealth?

Morningside Center

In this brief activity, students consider Oxfam's finding that the world's richest 1% will own half of global wealth by 2016.   

Current Issues

Question: 

 
Ask students to fill in the blank:  A new report finds that by 2016, the richest 1% of the world’s people will own  _______ % of the world’s wealth.
 
Ask:  How much wealth do you think the richest 1% SHOULD own? 
  • 1%  
  • 25%
  • 50% 
  • 75%

Fact:  

An analysis by the group Oxfam released on January 19, 2015, found that if current trends continue, the richest 1% of the world’s people will own more than half the world’s wealth by 2016.  They currently own 48%. Oxfam proposes nine ways to reduce inequality.
 

Source: 

 

Optional follow up question:

In the U.S., how much wealth do the richest 1% own?