Inequality Courses

What is inequality?

Inequality means a difference in size or degree. A lack of balance leads to many social ills, so addressing it is a civil issue. Income inequality, economic inequality, gender inequality -- these and other types of rising inequality or continued inequality threaten the stability of society.

Studying inequality helps us understand how to alleviate it. Part of the mission of civil society is to ensure that equality reigns. When disparities such as wealth inequality become too great, everyone suffers.

Economic policy isn't the only area concerned with inequality. As the world becomes smaller, inequality based on ethnicity, language, religion, and other forms of social inequality also affect people groups. If we're creating a better world, we're addressing such inequalities.

Learn about inequality

Inequality is a complex issue, and its study is one of history, economics, and philosophy. edX offers courses created in partnership with experts in these fields, designed to reach students where they are. 

Many courses are free for personal development, but students with career and professional goals may access official credit for a fee. edX offers courses, certifications, and degrees. Students study with a global cohort of peers and complete much of the requirements on their own schedule.

Inequality courses and certifications

Stanford University offers an online course on inequality in the United States, America's Poverty and Inequality. Students study the types of inequality happening in the country, including changes to social mobility, and learn which types are actually diminishing.

From a global perspective, WellesleyX offers a course on Global Inequality. Students explore sociological principles of class and gender through multimedia content, such as interviews and a full-length documentary.

edX also offers courses on different aspects of inequality. Inclusive and Sustainable Cities from DelftX explores the intersection of globalization, advanced economies, and the concentration of wealth. Women Have Always Worked is an X-series that explores the distribution of income and economic growth from the perspective of gender inequality, in particular women as earners. Harvard's Health and Society explores inequities in the healthcare system worldwide and how we can pursue global health initiatives that raise the life expectancy for everyone.

Exploring the effects of inequality

Inequality affects more than simply income distribution. In a world with billionaires rising up alongside developing countries where the average income cannot sustain the quality of life, inequality is a vital part of study. 

Students can come to their own theories of safety nets, redistribution, labor markets, and globalization, exploring alongside economists like Thomas Piketty. Economists and those in social science are exploring ways to rebuild the middle class and lift low-income families out of poverty to eliminate inequality. Still, more exploration is necessary to ensure the well-being of every citizen. Recent decades have given us some hope for reducing inequality. edX can provide momentum to continue the push to end inequality once and for all.