📋 Group Discussion (GD) Analysis Guide: Can International Cooperation Solve the Problem of Global Income Inequality?

🌐 Introduction to the Topic

• 📌 Opening Context: Income inequality remains one of the most pressing global issues, with the top 1% of the world’s population owning nearly 50% of global wealth (Oxfam, 2023). International cooperation presents a potential solution, leveraging the strengths of global institutions and cross-border collaborations.
• 📖 Topic Background: The concept of global income inequality has gained prominence with globalization exposing stark wealth divides. International cooperation, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities), has focused on addressing this challenge.

📊 Quick Facts and Key Statistics

👥 Stakeholders and Their Roles

• 🏛️ Governments: Design equitable tax systems and implement redistributive policies.
• 🌍 International Organizations: Facilitate frameworks for cooperation (e.g., IMF, World Bank).
• 📈 Private Sector: Address wage gaps and ethical practices in supply chains.
• 🌱 Non-Governmental Organizations: Advocate for marginalized communities and monitor policy impacts.

🏆 Achievements and Challenges

✨ Achievements:

• 📉 Global Poverty Reduction: Extreme poverty has declined from 36% (1990) to 8% (2022) due to international aid and trade.
• ✅ Fair Trade Initiatives: Programs like Fairtrade have empowered millions of small-scale farmers.
• 🌐 Global Minimum Tax: OECD’s 2021 agreement on a 15% global minimum corporate tax aims to reduce profit shifting.

⚠️ Challenges:

• ⚖️ Wealth Disparities: The income share of the bottom 50% has barely improved in the last two decades.
• 🚫 Lack of Political Will: Many countries prioritize national interests over global goals.

🌍 Global Comparisons:

• ✔️ Success: Nordic countries exemplify reduced inequality through redistributive tax policies.
• ❌ Challenges: Sub-Saharan Africa struggles with inequality despite aid inflows.

Case Study: India’s Direct Benefit Transfers: Reduced leakages in welfare schemes, a model for international replication.

📢 Structured Arguments for Discussion

• ✅ Supporting Stance: “Global cooperation has driven historic achievements like poverty reduction through UN-led initiatives.”
• ❌ Opposing Stance: “National interests and political disparities often hinder meaningful global collaboration.”
• ⚖️ Balanced Perspective: “While cooperation provides a framework, local governments must lead with tailored solutions.”

🧠 Effective Discussion Approaches

• 🎯 Opening Approaches:
• Statistical Hook: “With 76% of wealth held by the top 10%, international collaboration is no longer optional but imperative.”
• Case Study: “The OECD’s minimum tax pact highlights how international efforts can address structural inequalities.”
• 🤝 Counter-Argument Handling:
• Recognize barriers like tax haven exploitation and propose enforcement mechanisms via multilateral agreements.

📊 Strategic Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths:
• Existing frameworks (e.g., UN SDGs), successful aid models.
• Weaknesses:
• Insufficient implementation and enforcement.
• 📈 Opportunities: Technological innovation in global wealth redistribution.
• ⚡ Threats: Rising protectionism and geopolitical conflicts.

🎓 Connecting with B-School Applications

• 💼 Real-World Applications: Link to global trade policies, CSR strategies, and impact investing.
• 📚 Sample Interview Questions:
• “How can the private sector contribute to reducing global inequality?”
• “What role does technology play in income redistribution globally?”
• 💡 Insights for B-School Students:
• Focus on collaborative strategies and their financial implications in case studies or projects.