On Tue, 5 Mar 2019 11:32:50 +0000, Martin Brown
wrote:

Japan is an example of a more harmonious society where income inequality
is very much less and almost everyone claims to be middle class.

Japan is an interesting case. Most western countries combat income
inequality with progressive taxes (and wealth inequality with
inheritance taxes). Japan deals with income inequality by having a
much flatter pay system. In most cases, a CEO doesn't make vastly more
money than a janitor at the same company.