Economic inequality refers to the uneven distribution of income and wealth among individuals and groups within societies and across the globe, often resulting in significant disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and basic needs. This disparity has reached extreme levels in recent years, with the top 10% of the global population owning three-quarters of personal wealth while the bottom 50% holds just 2%, according to the World Inequality Report 2026. Such concentration of resources in the hands of a tiny elite—where fewer than 60,000 people control more wealth than half of humanity—undermines the principles of fairness and equal opportunity. Social justice, in contrast, demands equitable treatment and the fulfillment of human rights, including economic rights to decent living standards, education, health, and work. Extreme economic inequality directly erodes social justice by perpetuating cycles of poverty, limiting social mobility, and fostering divisions that weaken societal cohesion and trust in institutions. It also intersects with other injustices, such as gender disparities where women earn significantly less than men for comparable work, and regional gaps in education and health spending. Addressing this requires deliberate policy choices, like progressive taxation and targeted social investments, to redistribute opportunities and build more inclusive economies. Ultimately, reducing economic inequality is essential not only for moral fairness but also for sustainable growth, democratic stability, and shared prosperity.