Across the world, people experience huge differences in influence, access to legal systems, power and social status, at the level of individuals, between men and women, and between groups. The World Development Report (WDR) 2006 will explore the role of equity in development.

A six-week online consultation will begin on October 12, 2004and focus on the three parts of the report's outline:

-How unequal is the world?

-Does Inequality Matter? and

-Institutions and Policies for Greater Equity and Lower Poverty.

For more information about the report, to read the outline, and to later join the e-discussion, please visit the new WDR 2006 website at http://www.worldbank.org/wdr2006 . Also, check the PovertyNet newsletter for regular updates and progress in preparing the report.