Economic Inequality in the Digital Age: A Business School Professor’s Reflection on the Sustainability and Equity of Our Current Economic System

As a business school professor, I have been imparting my teachings to MBA and executive students for many years. During my time in lockdown in northern Italy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I found a moment to reflect on the effectiveness of our economic system. The current global situation, marked by inequalities, the dominance of a few major platforms, ineffective economic policies, depletion of natural resources, social unrest, and the economic devastation caused by the pandemic led me to question the sustainability and equity of our current framework.

It became apparent that our economic system had become entrenched, allowing a few well-informed actors such as Big Tech companies and their platforms to exploit it for their benefit at the expense of others. This exploitation had severe repercussions for both individuals’ well-being and the planet as a whole. As an educator, I felt compelled to explore how we could address these issues and contribute to creating a more sustainable and equitable economic system. It is crucial for us to work together towards finding solutions that will benefit everyone equally while preserving our planet’s resources for future generations.