Inequality in Canada: The History and Politics of an Idea

Eric Sager explores the concept of inequality in Canada throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, tracing its origins from classical economics to the emergence of welfare economics. He argues that inequality extends beyond income and wealth, considering it a social injustice and an economic problem. Sager suggests that a political solution to inequality may lie in the recovery of an ethical ideal and egalitarian politics, reflecting Canada's long history of thought on these issues.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 20 January 2021
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

In Canada, the concept of inequality has played a significant role throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with its meanings and contexts evolving across different periods. Eric Sager, in his book "Inequality in Canada," explores this idea as one of the defining concepts of our era, highlighting its complexity and its various interpretations.

Sager traces the origins of inequality to the long evolution of economic thought in Britain and the United States, from classical economics to the emergence of welfare economics in the twentieth century. Within this transatlantic framework, inequality took on distinct forms in Canada, influenced by various factors such as Protestant critiques of wealth, labor movements, farmer-progressive politics, the social gospel, social Catholicism in Quebec, English-Canadian political economy, and political and intellectual justifications of the social security state.

A tradition of idealist thought persisted in the twentieth century, sustaining the idea of inequality despite periods of silence among Canadian economists. Sager argues that inequality extends beyond the mere distribution of income and wealth; it encompasses the wide gaps between the rich and the poor, recognizing that these gaps not only pose economic challenges but also represent social injustices. When inequality arises, it is seen as a problem that can be either eliminated or reduced.

Sager's analysis emphasizes the dynamic nature of inequality, as it appears in different contexts and evolves over time. He suggests that by studying the contours and cleavages of inequality in our contemporary world, we can gain a better understanding of its historical roots and its potential solutions. In this regard, Sager proposes that a political solution to inequality may lie in the recovery of an ethical ideal and egalitarian politics that have long been central to Canadian thought.

Overall, "Inequality in Canada" provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the concept of inequality in Canadian history, shedding light on its various meanings, contexts, and historical developments. Sager's book offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with inequality and contributes to our understanding of this important issue in contemporary society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228005797