Many conflicts in the contemporary world revolve around issues of ethnic or religious differences; however, a constant theme in armed conflicts worldwide is the struggle over resources and the wealth that goes with them. The yawning gaps in wealth that so sharply demarcate rich nations from poor, and rich people from poor people, seem to be relentless promoters of conflict. This book is about the international gap in wealth between rich and poor nations, and the domestic gap in wealth between rich and poor people. It is a comprehensive volume on the causes of income inequality between and within countries. It encompasses a wide selection of literature, which is a must for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of the elusive concepts of development and underdevelopment.