http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/opinion/10cox.html Differences in consumption per person are much less dramatic than differences in income (in the US): “If we look at consumption per person, the difference between the richest and poorest households falls to just 2.1 to 1. The average person in the middle fifth consumes just 29 percent more than someone living in a bottom-fifth household.” (nice graphic) 17:10