25.09.2015
Top incomes drive inequality – so why does the inequality target ignore them?

The Guardian "The final terms of the new global framework, the sustainable development goals, will be agreed at the United Nations summit in New York this Friday. For the first time the world will adopt a global target to reduce national income inequality. But time is running out to make sure the target is effective.

The value of setting such a target is clear. There is mounting evidence of the damaging effect of income inequality on development goals and economic growth prospects. And this global framework provides an opportunity to agree a norm that might not be politically possible at a national level in some countries.

In initial discussions on the SDGs, the idea of an income equality target was considered “too political”. But the global consultation revealed a broad consensus in favour of one, and the UN open working group on SDGs agreed that an income inequality target was needed." (Photo: © flickr)