Economic Growth

How to help reduce inequality

In a recent blog post, Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima highlights a critical issue all of us working in international development must address: How can we reduce the extreme inequality between the haves and the have-nots around the world? Oxfam’s launch of the Even it Up campaign takes the organization’s research findings on inequality another step further by offering policy solutions to help tackle this growing problem.

Oxfam’s report offers new evidence of an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor that threatens to undermine poverty eradication, examines the causes of the inequality crisis, and proposes concrete solutions to overcome it.

The World Bank Group’s goals are to end extreme poverty by 2030 and promote shared prosperity by increasing the incomes and welfare of the bottom 40% of society.

“We are working to ensure that the growth of the global economy will improve the lives of all members of society, not only a fortunate few,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim in a speech this month.

Oxfam’s initiative to raise awareness and spur action from governments, institutions, and corporations to tackle the inequality crisis is commendable. Their report has noted areas where improvements can be made, such as in labor rights, tax policy, health, education, public services, social protection, and gender equality.

You can also take action. Share Oxfam’s report through your social networks using the hashtag #EvenItUp and tell your leaders why you want to #TakeOn #inequality.

This post first appeared on The World Bank Blog

Author: Mario Trubiano has more than a decade of online marketing and social media experience, as well as in-depth knowledge of the World Bank’s projects and research gleaned from eight years working in the Bank’s publishing division.

Image: A school girl holds a container to receive her free mid-day meal, distributed by a government-run primary school, at Brahimpur village in Chapra district of the eastern Indian state of Bihar. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

Sign up for free

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Share:
World Economic Forum logo

Forum Stories newsletter

Bringing you weekly curated insights and analysis on the global issues that matter.