Compact lighting system and display device

A compact backlight system has a light-emitting panel with a front wall, a rear wall situated opposite thereto, a first edge surface and, opposite thereto, a second edge surface . A first light source is associated with the first edge surface which is light-transmitting. The light-emitting panel widens over a widening section from the first edge surface in a direction towards the second edge surface, and the rear wall is provided over the widening section with a multiplicity of steps (′, . . . ) each having a surface facing the front wall which is substantially parallel to the front wall.