It’s certainly not news that Brazil is haunted by obscene inequality. Yet each time new data comes forward on just how unequal our country is, we can’t help but feel appalled. A recent study published by the World Wealth and Income Database (a think tank directed by the renowned French economist Thomas Piketty) reveals that Brazil’s richest actually earn more money than they do in France. Yikes.
According to the study, called Extreme and Persistent Inequality: New Evidence for Brazil and led by economist Marc Morgan, Brazil’s top 1 percent earns $541,000/year against France’s $450-500,000. By the way, this...