?

Log in

No account? Create an account

Previous Entry | Next Entry

Interesting Links for 24-02-2012

  • Feb. 24th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
politics
nwhyte

Comments

( 3 comments — Leave a comment )
steepholm
Feb. 24th, 2012 11:24 am (UTC)
"Don't ever rest, not until more than half the UK has better than average broadband speed"!

That's exactly why calls to eradicate poverty are nonsensical, since poverty is defined in relative terms! Jesus clearly studied statistics, because, as he pointed out, "The poor ye have always."
| Reply | Thread
gareth_rees
Feb. 24th, 2012 01:45 pm (UTC)
calls to eradicate poverty are nonsensical, since poverty is defined in relative terms

The people who call for eradication of poverty are probably thinking in absolute terms.

But even if you define poverty in relative terms, it's still (mathematically) possible to eradicate it. In the UK, a typical measure of relative poverty is a household having less than 60% of median income (after housing costs). It would certainly be (mathematically) possible for every household to have more than 60% of median income, even if the income distribution remains highly skewed.
| Reply | Parent | Thread
steepholm
Feb. 24th, 2012 02:03 pm (UTC)
True - I was simplifying so as to get the point across in a snappy way. But yeah - I've made that same point in the past. One trouble with relative measures is that it means that a drastic reduction in general living standards may actually make it look as if poverty is being eliminated. I suspect that poverty is being eliminated in Greece as I write, even as most people are getting poorer in absolute terms.

On the other hand, I can see why they prefer relative to absolute measures.

| Reply | Parent | Thread
( 3 comments — Leave a comment )

Profile

politics
nwhyte
Nicholas
Website

Latest Month

March 2019
S M T W T F S
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      

View All Archives

Links

Tags

View my Tags page

Page Summary

Powered by LiveJournal.com
Designed by yoksel