1. At the simplest level - we would say that economic inequality exists in a society if there are significant differences in wealth - property or income between individuals or classes. 2. One way of measuring the degree of economic inequality in a society would be to measure the relative difference between the richest and poorest groups.(c)Political equality or equality before the law is an important first step in the pursuit of equality but it often needs to be supplemented by equality of opportunities. 4. Another way could be to estimate the number of people who live below the poverty line. Of course absolute equality of wealth or income has probably never existed in a society. 5. Most democracies today try to make equal opportunities available to people in the belief that this would at least give those who have talent and determination the chance to improve their condition.