Inequality has been one of the defining issues of our times. Gaps between the rich and poor have widened even in the world’s wealthiest nations, where the post-2008 crisis economic recovery often failed to prioritise those most in need.

A recent selection of research by Transparency International shows that the COVID-19 pandemic risks becoming another such disruption. It also makes clear the urgent need for global action to stop that from happening.

Recent revelations from the FinCEN Files add to the overwhelming evidence that lacklustre supervision of the banking industry – who remain a weak link in global efforts to combat the corruption, tax evasion and tax avoidance – fuel economic and social inequalities.