Is inequality the problem?

A lot of people are talking about income inequality and wealth disparity. My friends post statistics bemoaning the fact that, for example, the wealthiest 62 billionaires have as much money as the poorest 50 percent of the world.

This is startling, and worth knowing about. But is it itself a problem?

I don’t think it necessarily is. In explaining why, I want to make clear why many (typically progressive) arguments that bring up inequality fail to gain traction with other (typically conservative) audiences. This might help us have more fruitful conversations about economic justice.