Want to Help People? Focus on Economic Mobility, Not Inequality

Both in the United States and around the world, income inequality and economic mobility have been thrust into the center of the most relevant policy conversations of our time. Political leaders from President Obama and Pope Francis to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and British Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn are quick to discuss inequality as the main culprit of our current economic and social problems.

That focus on inequality, while well-intentioned, has resulted in policies that have taken a toll on a different policy goal: ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at moving up the income ladder. There is clearly a need for a broader discussion about which is the more important goal for public policy to pursue.

What happens when you ask people all around the world what is more important, reducing income inequality or having a fair shot at improving one’s economic standing? The Archbridge Institute recently commissioned a survey in more 60 countries asking this exact question. The survey was conducted in partnership with RIWI, a global survey technology and sentiment analysis firm, and included other mobility-related questions that we have analyzed elsewhere.

Continue reading at The Hill.