Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has called for stronger international action to address inequality, as Barbados joins a coalition of countries supporting the creation of a global panel to examine the growing economic divide between wealthy and developing nations.
Mottley made the appeal on October 14 during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand, where she highlighted the connections between inequality, poverty, unemployment and conflict.
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“Addressing inequality is fundamental to our ability to end poverty, create opportunities for jobs and ownership, and address the growing number of conflicts around the world,” Mottley said.
She also warned that climate change and the rapid development of artificial intelligence were making the issue more urgent, particularly for countries at risk of falling further behind in the global economy.
The proposed international panel would study inequality and provide evidence-based recommendations to governments and policymakers. Supporters are seeking a resolution through the United Nations General Assembly to formally establish the body before the middle of 2027.
The initiative has attracted support from countries including Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Norway, Germany, Mexico, Iceland, Japan and Bangladesh. Norwegian Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust said 15 countries had signed on to the initiative, with further commitments expected.
The proposed panel comes amid concerns that rising public debt, higher food and fuel costs, reduced development assistance and unequal access to emerging technologies could deepen disparities between advanced and developing economies.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has also warned that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could widen the economic gap, particularly if developing countries lack the investment and infrastructure needed to benefit from new technologies.
Aukrust argued that inequality is not inevitable but is shaped by policy choices and can therefore be addressed through political action. He also warned that countries with high levels of inequality tend to face greater vulnerabilities in their democratic institutions.
The proposed body is expected to draw on the model of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which assesses scientific evidence and provides information to help governments shape policy. Its supporters believe a similar approach could strengthen international understanding of the causes and consequences of economic inequality.
For Barbados and other small developing states, the initiative offers an opportunity to bring greater attention to structural economic challenges that affect access to financing, investment and development opportunities.
The proposal has gained momentum as governments consider how to ensure that economic growth, technological change and international cooperation produce broader benefits rather than concentrating wealth and opportunity among a smaller share of the global population.
