{"id":55198,"date":"2019-05-12T18:36:01","date_gmt":"2019-05-12T18:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepubliceconomist.com\/?p=55198"},"modified":"2019-05-14T14:59:19","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T14:59:19","slug":"poverty-inequality-and-politics-are-we-missingthelink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepubliceconomist.com\/?p=55198","title":{"rendered":"Poverty, Inequality, and Politics: Are we missing\tthe\tlink?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>\n\nActors,\t in\t any\t society,\t who\t share\t similar\t interests,\t bond\t together\t and\t after\t holding\t\nconsiderable\t representation,\t power\t and\t wealth,\t mobilize\t less\t advantaged\t groups.\t\nRepresentation\tdrives\tpolitics\tand\tmobilization\tof\tthe\tless\tprivileged\ttranslated\tinto\twelfare\t\nschemes.\tOver\ttime,\twe\thave\tseen,\tpolitics\tstarts\tgetting\tinfluenced\tvery\tdistinctively\tby\tboth\t\nthese\ttwo\textremes.\tThe\trich\tpool\tin\tmoney\tto\tpolitical\tparties\tfor\ttheir\town\tbenefits\tand\tthe\t\nunderprivileged\t (not\tnecessarily\tpoor)\tact\tlike\tpressure\tgroups.\tThis\tmight\tsound\todd,\tbut\t\nbarely\thave\tthe\trich\tever\tbeen\table\tto\texert\tthemselves\tas\ta\tpressure\tgroup\tfor\ta\tparticular\t\ncause.\tThis\tfavors\tthe\tpoor,\tbecause,\tinherently,\tthe\tpower\tsupports\tand\tperpetuates\tpower.\t\nOften\t this\t is\t the\t general\t explanation\t given\t to\t the\t close\t nexus\t that\t exists\t between\t the\t\npoliticians,\tindustrialists,\tand\telites.\tThe\tonly\tway,\tfor\tthe\tpoor\tto\tgain\tany\treal\tpower,\tis\tto\t\nconnect\t and\t gauge\t the\t attention\t of\t the\t middle\t class\t (apart\t from\t the\t politicians)\t to\t their\t\nproblems.\t\nAs\twe\ttalk\tabout\tthe\ttwo\tends\tof\tthe\tspectrum\t\u2013 the\trich\tand\tthe\tpoor;\twe\tmust\talso\tmention\t\nabout\tthe\tdifference\t(or\tgap)\tthat\texists\tbetween\tthe\ttwo\tends.\tToday,\twe\thear\tboth\tthese\t\nterms\tin\t the\tsame\tsentence.\tHowever,\t this\twas\tnot\talways\t the\tcase.\tHistorically,\t theorists\t\nwrote\tabout\tpoverty\tand\tinequality\tas\ttwo\tdisparate\tsubjects,\trather\tthan\tbeing\tconcomitant.\t\nWhy\thas\tthat\tbeen\tthe\tcase?\tConvenience,\tmaybe;\tPolitical\tconstruct,\tdefinitely.\t\nPoverty,\tmore\t than\tan abstract\tidea,\tis\ta\treality.\tIt\tis\tsomething\t the\tprivileged\tone\u2019s\tstudy\t\nabout,\t whilst\t others\t live\t it\t every\t day.\t Either\t way,\t one\t thing\t that\t remains\t common\t is\t the\t\nacceptance\tof\t the\tlucid\tprecepts\tof\ta\tclass-based\tsociety.\tOur\t friends,\teducation,\thow\t the\t\ngovernment\tresponds\tto\tour\tdemands;\tall\tare\tdriven\tby\tthe\tclass\tnorms.\tThe\tdivide\tbetween\t\nthe\tclasses,\tpredominantly,\tis\tabout\tmoney.\tThe\tgovernment\tdrives\t (promotes,\tinfluences\t\nand\tregulates)\tthe\teconomy.\tIf\t\u2018money\u2019\tis\tthe\tcommon\tdenominator,\tit\tbecomes\tnecessary\t\nto\task\tthe\tkey\tquestion\t\u2013 Does\tthe\tGovt.\tenvisage\tan\tecosystem\twhere\teveryone\thas\ttheir\t\nbasic\u2019s\tcovered?\tDoes\tthe\tGovt.\tgenuinely\twork\ttowards\teradicating\tpoverty?\tDo\tpoverty\tand\t\ninequality\tbenefit\tthe\tpolitical\tclasses?\nLiberal\t free\t trade\t philosophy,\t as\t advocated\t by\t Adam\t Smith,\t tried\t investigating\t the\t same\t\nquestions.\tFree\tMarket\tphilosophy\tdepicted\tclass\trev\nWould\tthe\tsituation\tand\tlife\tof\tthe\tpeople\twho\tare\tat\tthe bottom\tof\tthe\tpyramid\timprove,\tif\t\nthis\t1\t%\tof\tthe\tpeople\tdecided\tto\tgive\taway\ttheir\twealth?\tWhy\tI\tam\tbringing\tthis\tquestion,\tis\t\nto\tbring\tto\tlight,\ta\tperspective,\twhich\tI\toften\t feel\tis\tmissed\tout\twhile\twe\tread\tabout\tthese\t\nsubjects.\tDo\twe\tjust\tonly\twant\tto\tpush\tpeople\tout\tfrom\t\u2018poverty\u2019\tor\tdo\twe\talso,\talong\tthe\t\nway,\tdo\tsomething\tabout\tthe\tpertinent\tdifference\tthat\texists\tbetween\tthe\thighest\tand\tthe\t\nbottom-most\t pyramids\tin\t the\t structure?\tThe\t first\tidea,\t only\t speaks\tabout\tending\t poverty,\t\nwhilst\t the\tlatter\tgoes one\t step\tahead,\t thinking\t beyond\t distributing\tmere\t doles\t to\t this\t big\t\nchunk\tof\tthe\tpopulation.\tBecause\teventually,\tthis\tunderstanding\tis\tcrucial\tto\tdesign\tpolicies\t\nto\ttackle\tthese\tpressing\tproblems.\t\t\nMany\ttheorists\thave\twritten\tabout\tpoverty.\tThe\tliterature\tis\tladen\twith\tvarious\tnotions,\tideas\t\n(both\ttheoretical\tand\tphilosophical)\tabout\thow\tpoverty\taffects\tan\tindividual.\tBut,\tinequality,\t\nsomehow,\tis\tstill\tan\tabstract\tconcept.\tPrimarily,\tbecause\tnot\teveryone\tlooks\tat\tit\tas\ta\tproblem\t\nbut\tmore\tas\ta\tconsequence.\tI\tthink,\tthere\tare\ttwo\tways\tof\tlooking\tat\tit.\tOne\tis\tall\tabout\tthe\t\nrich.\tAnd\tthe\tother\tis\tjust\tabout\tthe\tpoor.\tAnd\twe,\toften,\tstart\tfrom\tthe\trich.\tThat\tis\twhere\t\nwe\tfall\tout.\t\nThe\tnarrative\tbuilds\ta\tstory\twhere\ta\tfew\trich\tindividuals\tdominate\tand\tcommand\tthe\twealth,\t\nwhich\t most\t of\t us\t can\u2019t\t even\t dream\t of.\t Subtly,\t or\t rather\t openly,\t it\t is\t portrayed\t as\t a\t\nconsequence\t of\t the\t abuse\t or\t exploitation\t of\t the\t poor.\t Basically,\t how\t many\t development\t\nsector\t professionals,\t policy\t groups,\t civil\t society,\t NGO\u2019s\t put\t it.\t But\t this\t is\t not\t really\t the\t\nproblem.\tThe\tproblem\tis\tthis\twidening\t\u2018Gap\u2019.\tThe\tseesaw,\tthey\tbelieve\twas\talways\ttilted,\tbut\t\nof\tlate,\tis\tbecoming\tmore\tand\tmore\tskewed.\tBoth\tthe\tends\tof\tthe\tseesaw\tare\tquite\tdistant\t\nfrom\t each\t other,\t so\t they\t are\t never\t really\t in\t a\t position\t to\t feel\t anything\t more\t than\t mere\t\nindifference.\tFor\tthe\tpoor,\tthe\tindifference\tis\tcoupled\twith\tanger,\tfor\tobvious\treasons.\tThe\t\nones\tlike\tme,\twho\twrite\tabout\tit,\tare\tactually\tthe\tones\twho\tare\tnot\taffected\tby\tit\tat\tall.\tThe\t\nrich,\tat\tleast\ttake\tthe\tblame\tand\tpretend\tto\tbe\tthe\t\u2018bad\tones\u2019\tin\tthe\tstory.\t\nNow,\twhen\twe\trecognize\tthe\tproblem\tand\tdo\tunderstand\tthe\tgravity\tof\tit,\twhat\tdo\twe\tdo?\t\nWe\tdecide\tto\tfind\ta\tmeans\tto\treduce\tthis\tgap.\tNot\tin\tIndia,\tthough.\tWe\tare\tstill\ttrying\tto\tdeal\t\nand\tfind\tways\tto\ttackle\tpoverty.\tI\tam\tnot\tsure\tif\twe\thave\treached\ta\tplace,\twhere\twe\tdon\u2019t\tsay\t\n\u2018alarming\tpoverty\tlevels\u2019.\tOur\tcountry,\tbeing\ta\twelfare\tstate,\trelies\ton\ttaxes\tto\treach\tout\tto\t\nthe\t needy\t ones.\t It\t is\t actually\t quite\t consistent\t with\t what\t is\t prescribed\t in\t the\t theory\t as\t a\t\npanacea\tto\tthe\tproblem.\tWherever\tpoverty\trates\tare\thigh,\tand\tthe\tgovernment\tneeds\tfunds,\t\nthey\tend\tup\tincreasing\tthe\ttaxes\ton\tthe\trich\tto\tredirect\tit\tto\tthe\tpoor.\tThis,\thowever,\tpushes\t\nthe\tbusinesses\tto\tfind\tways\tto\tevade\ttaxes.\tIt\tis\tnot\tbecause\tthe\trich\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\thelp\tthe\t\ngovernment\treach\tout\t to\t the\tpoor,\tbut\tbecause\t they\tknow,\tit\tis\ta\tnever-ending\tcycle.\tThe\t\ngovernment,\tsince\tages,\thas\tonly\tbeen\tfocusing\ton\tproviding\tmeans\tand\tresources\tto\tthe\tpoor\t\n(subsidies,\tdoles,\tetc.)\tinstead\tof\tdesigning\tpolicies\tand\tbringing\tprograms\tto\tpromote\tselfdependence.\t The\t question\t is\t when\t the\t welfare\t state\t itself\t is\t not\t serious\t about\t reducing\t\n\u2018inequality\u2019,\t then\t why\t would\t the\t rich\t bother\t anyway?\t And,\t it\t is\t definitely\t not\t a\t mere\t\ncoincidence\t that\t the\t governments\t have\t always\t spoken\t about\t poverty\t minus\t inequality.\t\nPoverty\tis\tsuch\tan\tabstract\tidea,\twhich\tis\tdifficult\tto\tmeasure.\tYou\tcan\talways\tproject\tthat\tyou\t\nare\tdoing\tsomething\tabout\tit.\tWhatever\tthat\t\u2018something\u2019\tis.\tPolitical\tparties\tavoid\tspeaking\t\nabout\t inequality,\t in\t the\t public\t discourse\t and\t their\t manifesto\u2019s\t because\t one\t can\t clearly\t\nmeasure\tit\tin\tnumbers.\t\nTaking\tthis\tforward,\tI\tmove\tto\tthe\tnext\tquestion.\tDo\tthese\tpeople\twho\texist\ton\teither\tside\tof\t\nthe\tseesaw,\tare\tpositioned\tindividually\tor\tplaced\tin\tgroups?\tDoes\ttheir\tpositioning\tdepend\t\nupon\tthe\t\u2018group\u2019\tthey\tbelong\tto?\tDo\treligion,\tcaste\tand\tgender\thave\ta\tmuch\tbigger\trole\tto\t\nplay\tin\tthis\tarrangement\tthan\tthe\toccupation\tand\teducation\titself?\tIf\tthe\tanswers\tto\tthese\t\nquestions\tare\ta\t\u2018yes\u2019,\tthen\tcan\twe\tconveniently\tconnect\tthe\tdots\tas\tto\twhy\tthe\tgovernments\t\n(read\tpolitical\tparties)\twould\tideally\tnever\twant\tthese\tproblems\tto\tbe\tsolved?\tIt\tshouldn\u2019t\tbe\t\na\tsurprise\tthen,\tthat\tpolitical\tparties\tend\tup\ttaking\tcare\tof\ttheir\town\tgroup\u2019s\t\u2013 one\tfor\tthe\t\nwealth\tand\tother\tfor\tthe\tvotes.\t\nWe\tneed\t to\tlook\taround\tus\tand\tmaybe\task\tourselves\t tough\tquestions.\tWe\tbelieve\t (or\tare\t\nmade\t to\tbelieve)\t that\tinequality\twill\talways\texist,\tand\trightly\tso.\tBut\twe\tdon\u2019t\treally\tknow\t\nwhy.\tThe\tcurrent\tdebate\ton\tthe\tsubject\tis\tweak\tbecause\tthe\tones\targuing\tare\talso\tthe\tones\t\nsitting\tright\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tseesaw.\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Actors,  in  any  society,  who  share  similar  interests,  bond  together  and  after  holding considerable  representation,  power  and  wealth,  mobilize  less  advantaged  groups. Representation drives politics and mobilization of the less privileged translated into welfare schemes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":55199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[122,92],"tags":[9,158,120,159],"class_list":["post-55198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-governance","category-social","tag-inequality","tag-political-economy","tag-poverty","tag-welfare-politics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Poverty, Inequality, and Politics: Are we missing the link? - The Public Economist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thepubliceconomist.com\/?p=55198\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Poverty, Inequality, and Politics: Are we missing the link? - The Public Economist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Actors, in any society, who share similar interests, bond together and after holding considerable representation, power and wealth, mobilize less advantaged groups. 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