Contents -- Preface. Maria Helena André -- Editorial. Alexander Gallas -- The world we need - Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett -- Trade unionsand economic inequality. Perspectives, policies and strategies - Edlira Xhafa -- Labour markets, wage dispersion and union policies - Hansjörg Herr, Bea Ruoff and Carlos Salas -- Are targeting and universalism complementary or competing paradigms in social policy? Insights from Brazil, India and South Africa - Bernhard Leubolt, Karin Fischer and Debdulal Saha -- Progressive tax reform in OECD countries. Opportunities and obstacles - Sarah Godar, Christoph Paetz and Achim Truger -- The role of the public sector incombating inequality - Christoph Hermann -- The impact of financial liberalization on income inequality - Trevor Evans -- Inequality: the Achilles heel of free market democracy - Alexander Gallas, Christoph Scherrer and Michelle Williams.