The Great Gatsby Curve suggests the political debates over whether to aim for equality of outcome or equality of opportunity are a false dichotomy. The two principles are inextricably related: extreme inequality of incomes at one point in time leads to greater inequality of opportunity over time which in turn leads to widening gaps between the rich and poor. This seems plausible, given that privileged elites over successive generations may be less inclined to support the redistributive policies that would give those lower down society’s ranks a greater chance of displacing them at the top.
