Richard Wilkinson charts how greater inequality influences almost every measure of a society's well being, from life expectancy to mental illness, violence to illiteracy. Nilofer Merchant applies the lesson to innovation:
Societies with a bigger gap between rich and poor are worse for everyone in them, including the well off. And America now has the widest gap in income inequality of every developed country measured. Inequality undermines the trust, solidarity, and mutuality. And yet these elements of trust, solidarity, mutuality are the core of a culture of innovation. … Business performance goes up when engagement and collaboration go up.
The Dish 