today we’re looking at a concept that’s as provocative as it is controversial — a theory that asks: Does inequality get worse before it gets better? It’s called the Kuznets Curve, and it’s been central to debates about growth, fairness, and whether rising prosperity naturally leads to a more equal society. Let’s get smarter. What Is the Kuznets Curve? The Kuznets Curve is a graphical hypothesis that suggests there’s a predictable relationship between a country’s level of economic development and its level of income inequality. The shape of the curve is an inverted U: At the early stages of development, inequality rises. At later stages, inequality falls.