The laws of nature are what drive wealth inequality within a given society – unless society takes action to counteract their effect, such as by adopting laws on taxation. The larger the scale, the greater the inequality. Today’s globalisation trend is thus a process that naturally reinforces inequality. At the same time, globalisation also makes it more difficult to provide societal counterbalance. This conclusion is drawn by Marten Scheffer and two fellow ecologists from Wageningen University & Research, along with Utrecht University historian Bas van Bavel, in a publication on inequality that combines insights gleaned from nature and society. The article will appear in the authoritative PNAS on 27 November.