Dictionary

Kuznets curve en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkʌznɛts kɝv/

Etymology

Named after economist Simon Kuznets (1901–1985).

Meanings

1. A theoretical curve that graphs the hypothesis that as an economy develops, market forces first increase and then decrease economic inequality.
   • On the surface, the Kuznets curve seems to justify laissez-faire economics and trickle-down policies. 2012 April 30, Kentaro Toyama, “The Rise and Fall and Rise (Literally) of the Most Important Curve in Economics”, in The Atlantic:
   • Their creed is based on the Kuznets curve, the graph that appears to show that inequality automatically declines as capitalism advances, spreading wealth from the elite to the rest. 2014 July 29, George Monbiot, “The rich want us to believe their wealth is good for us all”, in The Guardian:

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