The economic/ecological double crisis has long since reached China. In order to stabilise the growing economy, access to new markets and resources is indispensable. At the same time, the associated environmental damage is steadily increasing, causing public pressure on the government in Beijing....

This chapter looks at US household sector micro data since 1989, to explore the relation between income inequality and financial fragility from a macro perspective. In contrast with a portfolio (and wealth inequality) approach to household financial instability, which focuses on the investments...