At its simplest, the groundbreaking work by French economist Thomas Piketty proves no more than what we thought we already knew: the rich get richer. Whether the poor also get poorer is another matter. What would the taxi driver who took me across Beijing last year in a Toyota tricked out with three smartphones have Read more
Dunedin’s Catholic Social Services (CCS) director Ian Donnelly says that while investment in housing would be part of a solution to South Dunedin’s socioeconomic deprivation, the real key was jobs. South Dunedin is the most deprived area in Otago, according to the latest Socioeconomic Deprivation Index, ”Meaningful work that gives people a decent income to Read more
The United Nations Secretary-General has told Pope Francis he is counting on the Catholic Church to work with the UN to promote a life of dignity for all. In Rome, Ban Ki-moon hailed the personal commitment by Pope Francis to eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development. Mr Ban and heads of major UN agencies had Read more
I was working on a standard-of-living case and was shown figures prepared by an approved budget advisory service for Meg and her daughter Stacey (I have simplified some detail and changed their names). Meg’s chronic health condition ruled out paid employment, so she was on a benefit. The budget recorded the family’s 2012 weekly income Read more
Do you recall The Great Jubilee Year 2000? For a few years before the turn of the century, almost every statement by a bishop or other church leader or organization contained some paean to the jubilee. The pope had called for it, and so all sorts of people either sincerely or for show acted as Read more
The Archbishop of Suva, Peter Loy Chong, says the interim Fijian government’s pursuit of foreign investors has contributed to a rise in the country’s poverty rate. Research by social justice advocate Father Kevin Barr indicates that six out of ten Fijians in full-time work are being paid below the poverty line. But the real numbers Read more
Nearly one million Catholic religious priests, brothers and sisters have been challenged to issue critiques of the global market economy based on capitalism. At a recent conference in Rome for treasurers for religious orders, a constant theme was criticism of capitalism. Several speakers denounced it as a “structure of sin” that purposefully does not attend Read more
Economist Brian Easton says New Zealand’s sexy image on the global business stage does not necessarily translate to a better life for those on low incomes, particularly women and children. Easton, who’s recently published a user’s guide to economic inequality, says inequality is difficult to measure. One indicator might show it going up while another Read more
The first ever National Minimum Wage in Fiji was announced by the Minister for Labour, Mr Jone Usamate last Wednsday. Former wages council chairman and poverty alleviation advocate Fr Kevin Barr has welcomed the Fiji government’s announcement that the country’s minimum wage rate at has been set at $2 per hour. However he thinks it it Read more