Pickett, K., Wilkinson, R. & de Vogli, R. (2014) “Equality, Sustainability and Wellbeing“, The EU’s Fifth Project: Transitional Governance in the Service of Sustainable Societies, The Francqui International Conference 2014, Brussels, Palais des Académies, 8-9 May.
Introduction
Over the next generation or so, politics seem likely to be dominated either by efforts to prevent runaway global warming or, if they fail, by attempts to deal with its consequences. Carbon emissions per head in rich countries are between two and five times higher than the world average. But cutting their emissions by a half or four-fifths will not be enough: world totals are already too high and allowances must be made for economic growth in poorer countries. In this paper, we consider how greater equality and policies to reduce carbon emissions need to be considered simultaneously.
When people think about how to move our societies towards sustainability, they usually think simply about reducing our collective environmental impact. But the related question, of how human wellbeing can be produced more efficiently, is often ignored. Modern economic systems are disastrously inefficient ways of producing wellbeing. The vast majority of people in rich countries live at historically unprecedented standards of comfort and luxury. Yet between 10 and 25 percent of their populations suffer some form of mental illness each year (as measured by WHO standard diagnostic questionnaires).
That wellbeing and National Income per capita have parted company in richer countries has been shown many times. But what should we do if we want to maximise wellbeing at the same time as moving towards sustainability? Greater equality has a central role to play in achieving both objectives. Reducing the income gap between rich and poor can help free us from consumerism – the greatest threat to sustainability – while at the same time making powerful direct contributions to the wellbeing of whole societies.
Relevant posts:
- Matsaganis, M. & Leventi, C. (2014) “Poverty and Inequality during the Great Recession in Greece“. Political Studies Review, 12: 209–223.
- Frankel, J. (2014) “How to address inequality“, VoxEU Organisation, 29 April.
- Ostry, J., Berg, A. Tsangarides, C. (2014) “Redistribution, inequality, and the sustainable growth: Reconsidering the evidence“, VoxEu Organisation, 6 March.