Economist and professor Branko Milanovic discusses the history and trajectory of global inequality, focusing on his famous 'Elephant Curve' graph. They also delve into globalization's impact on geopolitics and power balance, shifts in globalization and its effects on Western middle classes, and the implications of Western political concern with democracy as a form of imperialism.

Branko Milanovic, an economist renowned for his insights on inequality, joins Niobe Way, an author investigating the emotional lives of boys. They discuss the challenges boys face in expressing emotions within rigid cultural norms, leading to a crisis in male connections. Milanovic reviews economic theories from iconic thinkers like Adam Smith and Marx, exploring their relevance to today's inequality debates. The conversation also addresses how economic disparities impact social structures and relationships, challenging listeners to rethink societal values and norms.

Writing a book like that makes you really think brutally about the past. It makes you really think about the current time and also how the future would look at you.Branko MilanovicAccess Bonus Episodes on PatreonMake a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Branko Milanovic is a Research Professor at the City University of New York and a Senior Scholar at the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality. He served as the lead economist in the World Bank’s Research Department for almost 20 years. His most recent book is Visions of Inequality: From the French Revolution to the End of the Cold War.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:31Why Economic Inequality - 2:53Ideas Before 1820 - 13:26Marx and Socialism - 19:52Piketty and Modern Thought - 40:17Key LinksVisions of Inequality: From the French Revolution to the End of the Cold War by Branko Milanovicglobalinequality blog by Branko MilanovicFollow Branko Milanovic on X @BrankoMilanDemocracy Paradox PodcastThomas Piketty on EqualityJacob Hacker and Paul Pierson on the Plutocratic Populism of the Republican PartyMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast100 Books on DemocracyLearn more about the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at https://kellogg.nd.edu/ Support the show