By Jason Hickel, New Internationalist
This is where the depravity of the New Optimist worldview becomes clear. There is nothing bold or optimistic about their vision. On the contrary, it is feeble and cowardly – a pessimistic resignation to the status quo.
By Jason Hickel, Jason Hickel blog
The debate about global poverty is important. But our collective understanding of this matter will only be served by intellectually honest and sincere engagement with the arguments at hand.
By Jason Hickel, Jason Hickel blog
One of the main reasons we are concerned about inequality in the first place is that it allows rich people to exercise power over the lives of the poor.
By Jason Hickel, Jason Hickel blog
There are two primary methods for measuring inequality - relative and absolute. In the discipline of economics, the former has become dominant by far.
By Jason Hickel, Jason Hickel blog
These geopolitical power imbalances sustain and reproduce a global class divide that has worsened since the end of colonialism. This injustice is conveniently elided by the one-hump graph, which offers a misleadingly rosy narrative about what has happened over the past half century.
By Jason Hickel, Jason Hickel blog
All of this makes it clear who the real beneficiaries of globalization have been. And suddenly it seems a bit absurd to be touting as “progress” the pennies that have trickled down to the poorest when the overwhelming majority of new income since 1980 has been captured at the top.
By Jason Hickel, The Guardian blog
Our obsession with economic growth is making our task much more difficult than it needs to be. It’s like we’ve chosen to fight this battle facing uphill, with one hand tied behind our back.
By Jason Hickel, Jason Hickel blog
Last week Vox published an article on the global poverty debate. The piece – by journalist Dylan Matthews – raises a few issues that I think are worth addressing. I set out nine brief points here, responding to specific quotes from the article.