Abstract

Inequality has started rising again after a long decreasing phase since the beginning of the last century, with a sizeable increase in the concentration of income and wealth. Neoliberalism did not fare very well as a pathway to freedom. As a consequence, we observe ongoing social polarization processes, even though it is claimed that, strictly speaking, these are not polarized societies. In the second part of the paper we discuss how the regulation of inequality derives from specific institutions and political actions, moving the focus to the protection of individual citizenship rights. From this perspective, the question is: how much inequality can we accept? Some indications are given for an institutional context in which a better balance between freedom and equality could be achieved.