SOCIAL ISSUE Is the Inequality prevalence a contributing factor to poverty?
SOURCES
Clemens, Jason and Niels Veldhuis, ‘Inequality is fundamentally misunderstood’, Fraser Institute, Nov. 2012 Pp. 1-56
Mackenzie, Hugh, ‘Why the 99 percent still Matter’, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jan. 2013. Pp. 2-36
OPPOSING VIEWS:
YES Mackenzie says; “Those at the top of the scale lead healthier lives. When they need health care, they capitalize on connections. They enjoy the resources to go elsewhere to get to the head of the line. They even live longer; a case that is contradicting what the other 99 percent go through. ”
NO Clemens Jason and Neils Veldhuis say; the results of “Measuring Income Mobility in Canada” contradicts the narrative or notion that the rich prosper at the expense of the poor people. Canada’s economy is ever changing, and people can improve their living standards through better education and maturity and experience in what they do.
OUTLINE OF ARGUMENTS:
According to Mackenzie Hugh, the gap between the top 1% and the 99% of the Canadian population is an issue of attention, more so to the conservatives. In his publication, Mackenzie closely looks at two reports – one by TD Economics and the other one by Fraser Institute- that illustrate the eve rising attempt to assume the issue as a normal thing. In the Fraser Institute report, it clearly comes out that although there is economic mobility; it is demonstrated at the end of the income scale. In this scale, there is a rigorous movement from the middle and the low class than the one evidenced in the top income level (Mackenzie 23). The TD Economics on the other hand reports that since 1998, there have been no changes in the income inequality in Canada. In fact, it had continued widening, and this is the reason behind Occupy protests. However, The Conference Board claims that as much as there is inequality in Canada, the situation can’t be compared to the one of USA, which is extreme. In Canada, inequality is a common thing, ranging from the schools we take our kids to, the neighborhood we share and the problems we deal with, and these are totally contradicting. Therefore, inequality is inherent, and since it has become part of us, little can be done in an attempt to change the status quo (Mackenzie 28).
According to Jason Clemens and Neils Veldhuis, the debate on income inequality is a perennial issue which has never ceased to disappear, some of the reasons being reelection of Barack Obama, campaign against corporate bailouts back in 2009 and; political uncertainty. It has advanced to a level of public questioning. However, in most discussions on inequality, the parties normally ignore the fact of income mobility. As a matter of fact, income of an individual is dynamic, and it keeps changing now and then. Most of the analyses on income inequality override the fact that however much we assume, people’s income will keep on fluctuating depending on the economy (Jason& Neils 13). The general assumption of the day in this issue is that the gap between the rich and the poor will forever remain unchanged. However, this assumption doesn’t add up in the real life experience. In the case of a young person, he/she will start with informal works which in the long run can build up finally to a permanent job. Some also start at the lower end due to insufficient experience and with time they get promotions due to experience and maturity. The authors support their arguments with the report, measuring income mobility in Canada, which evidently reported that there is a continuous change and mobility in the income world; a world where every year, losers and gainers emerge. Over a period of ten years of study, there have been movements up and down in terms of incomes, with top income earners experiencing the highest downward mobility. In addition, the authors look at inequality in terms of change of people’s level of income as they get promotions, experience and rising educational experiences. Unless these natural changes have been well understood, finding solution to inequality will still remain an issue of national concern (Jason & Neils 24).
Works Cited
Clemens, Jason and Niels Veldhuis, ‘Inequality is fundamentally misunderstood’, Fraser Institute, Nov. 2012
Mackenzie, Hugh, ‘Why the 99 percent still Matter’, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jan. 2013.
