First identify the source of inequality

Editor, RE: “Economic inequality at odds with Agaciro” (The New Times, January 20).

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Editor,

RE: "Economic inequality at odds with Agaciro” (The New Times, January 20).

 Inequality isn’t only on the global scale; you can as well illustrate it using Rwanda. What fraction of the economy is held by, say, the richest ten people or so in the country? You can as well go down to province, districts, sector, even down to the Umudugudu.

The issue of inequality isn’t new. Even in the days of Kuznet, the problem was there and you don’t need to be an economist to know that it does exist. Many solutions have been suggested but none has proved to be water tight.

Inequality in itself isn’t bad, what is bad is high inequality. In any case, inequality brings competition, which is necessary for improving our well-being.

There will never be one solution fit all. Before we look for a solution, let us identify the source of this inequality. For identifying the barriers, one may usher in the long lasting solution(s). Do we know the source(s) of inequality in Rwanda?

Manzi