Wealth inequality is the unequal distribution of assets among individuals or groups within a society or country. It encompasses not only the lack of financial resources but also the lack of social capital¹, which allows an individual to access the networks and opportunities necessary to live a dignified life. The issue is multi-faceted. A range of factors lead to the uneven distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth globally. This often creates instability and resentment impacting all levels of society.

The complexity derives from having multiple interrelated causes feeding upon each other. Limited access to education, lower access to quality health care, or poor-quality housing can limit any chance of access to financial means, which in turn diminishes opportunities to thrive. To reduce inequalities, we must overcome discomfort in engaging with people differently affected and start rebuilding a social fabric marked by collaboration, shared responsibility, and accountability. 

The Julius Baer Foundation strategically supports projects that help counterbalance the wealth divide and build trust between all groups in society. Working with pioneers in the field of wealth inequality, the Foundation also promotes initiatives that go beyond poverty reduction by bringing together all stakeholders to create mutually beneficial partnerships.

Our approach

Sensitive to the outcomes of a polarised society, the Julius Baer Foundation believes that when bringing together socio-economic groups from either end of the wealth spectrum, they have much to learn from each other. With this in mind, we seek to bring together privileged with disadvantaged people to encourage collaboration and exchange, and support development of partnership-based collaborations focused on equal opportunities and social mobility.

The Julius Baer Foundation in particular values non-charitable and productive partnerships that go beyond mere monetary donations. This means that the beneficiaries of these initiatives are directly involved in enabling social mobility and that the emphasis is on sharing structural resources that reduce wealth inequality.

Wealth Inequality Initiative 

The Julius Baer Foundation aims to convene the leading thinkers and actors on wealth inequality. In 2021, it created ‘The Wealth Inequality Initiative’, which is designed to raise awareness and to advance the international dialogue on wealth inequality. At www.wealth-inequality.net we bring together experts, key players and actors in the field to share their expertise, showcase their projects, and provide a glossary that helps to understand the terms linked to wealth inequality. Through a multi-stakeholder approach, we aspire to win broad support for this quest, raise awareness on the issue of wealth inequality, and drive action to reduce it.

¹ Social capital can be understood as the assets, resources and benefits obtained from having networks and social interactions between individuals and groups (Putnam, 1995; Adler & Kwon, 2002; Claridge, 2004; Reyes et al., 2018)