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Why poverty still isn’t history | Ian Goldin | TEDxLondonSalon


thank you very much if ever there’s an

thank you very much if ever there’s an idea worth spreading it’s the end of

idea worth spreading it’s the end of

idea worth spreading it’s the end of poverty it’s the making history of this

poverty it’s the making history of this

poverty it’s the making history of this terrible blight on humanity it’s the

terrible blight on humanity it’s the

terrible blight on humanity it’s the thing that divides us it’s the thing

thing that divides us it’s the thing

thing that divides us it’s the thing that creates inequality it’s the thing

that creates inequality it’s the thing

that creates inequality it’s the thing that we need to focus on we’ve made

that we need to focus on we’ve made

that we need to focus on we’ve made incredible achievements over the last 25

incredible achievements over the last 25

incredible achievements over the last 25 years we can be optimistic poverty in

years we can be optimistic poverty in

years we can be optimistic poverty in the world’s fallen by about 300 million

the world’s fallen by about 300 million

the world’s fallen by about 300 million people even though the world’s

people even though the world’s

people even though the world’s population has increased by about 2

population has increased by about 2

population has increased by about 2 billion over this lifetime we I mean we

billion over this lifetime we I mean we

billion over this lifetime we I mean we collectively our social and political

collectively our social and political

collectively our social and political forces have never been more effective at

forces have never been more effective at

forces have never been more effective at fighting poverty then over this period

fighting poverty then over this period

fighting poverty then over this period of time but over billion people still

of time but over billion people still

of time but over billion people still love lives under $2 a day well over 2

love lives under $2 a day well over 2

love lives under $2 a day well over 2 billion people live under $3 a day and

billion people live under $3 a day and

billion people live under $3 a day and when you walk here from Kings Cross down

when you walk here from Kings Cross down

when you walk here from Kings Cross down the road you walk by people who are

the road you walk by people who are

the road you walk by people who are living in dire poverty it’s around us

living in dire poverty it’s around us

living in dire poverty it’s around us it’s everywhere it’s in our lifetimes

it’s everywhere it’s in our lifetimes

it’s everywhere it’s in our lifetimes and the key question is can we make

and the key question is can we make

and the key question is can we make poverty history the MDGs the milind

poverty history the MDGs the milind

poverty history the MDGs the milind Millennium Development Goals set a

Millennium Development Goals set a

Millennium Development Goals set a target of harming world poverty by 2010

target of harming world poverty by 2010

target of harming world poverty by 2010 and they succeeded and now our target

and they succeeded and now our target

and they succeeded and now our target has to be eliminating poverty and that

has to be eliminating poverty and that

has to be eliminating poverty and that implies also hugely reversing the

implies also hugely reversing the

implies also hugely reversing the growing inequality poverty comes in many

growing inequality poverty comes in many

growing inequality poverty comes in many forms and when we think about it we all

forms and when we think about it we all

forms and when we think about it we all have different images in our minds we

have different images in our minds we

have different images in our minds we all think about different people it has

all think about different people it has

all think about different people it has so many dimensions dimensions which are

so many dimensions dimensions which are

so many dimensions dimensions which are defined by gender by race by age by

defined by gender by race by age by

defined by gender by race by age by place and of course all of those matter

place and of course all of those matter

place and of course all of those matter it’s the poverty that surround us that

it’s the poverty that surround us that

it’s the poverty that surround us that we need to address first but of course

we need to address first but of course

we need to address first but of course it’s global poverty a child dying

it’s global poverty a child dying

it’s global poverty a child dying anywhere in the world

anywhere in the world

anywhere in the world is on all of our conscience someone’s

is on all of our conscience someone’s

is on all of our conscience someone’s suffering because they don’t have to is

suffering because they don’t have to is

suffering because they don’t have to is our responsibility and that’s not simply

our responsibility and that’s not simply

our responsibility and that’s not simply an ethical position

an ethical position

an ethical position it’s a position which I believe must be

it’s a position which I believe must be

it’s a position which I believe must be taken if we wanted to see us to

taken if we wanted to see us to

taken if we wanted to see us to sustainable future if we want a cohesive

sustainable future if we want a cohesive

sustainable future if we want a cohesive world and poverty might even be getting

world and poverty might even be getting

world and poverty might even be getting worse in fact we might have reached peak

worse in fact we might have reached peak

worse in fact we might have reached peak poverty reduction what does this mean it

poverty reduction what does this mean it

poverty reduction what does this mean it means that we might be getting less

means that we might be getting less

means that we might be getting less effective and poverty might be getting

effective and poverty might be getting

effective and poverty might be getting much worse and why do I say this because

much worse and why do I say this because

much worse and why do I say this because there are a number of forces building

there are a number of forces building

there are a number of forces building out there that we need to struggle

out there that we need to struggle

out there that we need to struggle against that we need to push back if we

against that we need to push back if we

against that we need to push back if we to eliminate poverty austerity the

to eliminate poverty austerity the

to eliminate poverty austerity the financial crisis of ten years ago has

financial crisis of ten years ago has

financial crisis of ten years ago has greatly increased poverty it’s led to

greatly increased poverty it’s led to

greatly increased poverty it’s led to over fifty million people around the

over fifty million people around the

over fifty million people around the world being laid off it’s reduced

world being laid off it’s reduced

world being laid off it’s reduced pensioners Inc comes and it’s reduced

pensioners Inc comes and it’s reduced

pensioners Inc comes and it’s reduced the incomes of governments it’s led to

the incomes of governments it’s led to

the incomes of governments it’s led to the rising of fees it’s cutting of

the rising of fees it’s cutting of

the rising of fees it’s cutting of Social Security the reduction of health

Social Security the reduction of health

Social Security the reduction of health budgets education budgets infrastructure

budgets education budgets infrastructure

budgets education budgets infrastructure and as working the Oxford Martin School

and as working the Oxford Martin School

and as working the Oxford Martin School incidently funded by city has just shown

incidently funded by city has just shown

incidently funded by city has just shown it has a dramatic increase on poverty

it has a dramatic increase on poverty

it has a dramatic increase on poverty and inequality austerity has greatly

and inequality austerity has greatly

and inequality austerity has greatly raised this another great challenge is

raised this another great challenge is

raised this another great challenge is that of course poverty intersects with

that of course poverty intersects with

that of course poverty intersects with all other dimensions of our lives it

all other dimensions of our lives it

all other dimensions of our lives it intersects with where we live how we

intersects with where we live how we

intersects with where we live how we live whether we have water whether we

live whether we have water whether we

live whether we have water whether we have food whether we have the things we

have food whether we have the things we

have food whether we have the things we need and the growing risks coming from

need and the growing risks coming from

need and the growing risks coming from climate change from biodiversity loss

climate change from biodiversity loss

climate change from biodiversity loss from water depletion and degradation

from water depletion and degradation

from water depletion and degradation raised poverty and increase inequality

raised poverty and increase inequality

raised poverty and increase inequality if you’re rich you can avoid these

if you’re rich you can avoid these

if you’re rich you can avoid these things you can go to Las Vegas or

things you can go to Las Vegas or

things you can go to Las Vegas or Phoenix and live happily

Phoenix and live happily

Phoenix and live happily those are rapidly growing cities because

those are rapidly growing cities because

those are rapidly growing cities because you can turn on the aircon pipe water

you can turn on the aircon pipe water

you can turn on the aircon pipe water from further and deeper but of course if

from further and deeper but of course if

from further and deeper but of course if you live in fragile places if you don’t

you live in fragile places if you don’t

you live in fragile places if you don’t have the money to pay for these things

have the money to pay for these things

have the money to pay for these things your life can be wrecked and many people

your life can be wrecked and many people

your life can be wrecked and many people many millions of people of course die as

many millions of people of course die as

many millions of people of course die as a result of these things

a result of these things

a result of these things exacerbate poverty risks exacerbate

exacerbate poverty risks exacerbate

exacerbate poverty risks exacerbate inequality and climate risk and

inequality and climate risk and

inequality and climate risk and biodiversity loss environmental risks

biodiversity loss environmental risks

biodiversity loss environmental risks amongst these risks are particularly

amongst these risks are particularly

amongst these risks are particularly destructive of lives and futures for

destructive of lives and futures for

destructive of lives and futures for people in communities so when we say

people in communities so when we say

people in communities so when we say let’s eliminate poverty we are not

let’s eliminate poverty we are not

let’s eliminate poverty we are not saying that is the only thing we need to

saying that is the only thing we need to

saying that is the only thing we need to focus on we need to focus on creating a

focus on we need to focus on creating a

focus on we need to focus on creating a sustainable planet where everyone can

sustainable planet where everyone can

sustainable planet where everyone can live together if course wars conflicts

live together if course wars conflicts

live together if course wars conflicts or development in Reverse people’s

or development in Reverse people’s

or development in Reverse people’s livelihoods as you’ll hear from Syria

livelihoods as you’ll hear from Syria

livelihoods as you’ll hear from Syria and elsewhere get destroyed by this and

and elsewhere get destroyed by this and

and elsewhere get destroyed by this and so peace is absolutely fundamental to

so peace is absolutely fundamental to

so peace is absolutely fundamental to the elimination of poverty it’s no

the elimination of poverty it’s no

the elimination of poverty it’s no accident that the most intractable

accident that the most intractable

accident that the most intractable poverty in the world is in fragile

poverty in the world is in fragile

poverty in the world is in fragile states where there are virtually no

states where there are virtually no

states where there are virtually no governments where governments are in

governments where governments are in

governments where governments are in conflicts the raising of walls around

conflicts the raising of walls around

conflicts the raising of walls around our societies is another huge impediment

our societies is another huge impediment

our societies is another huge impediment to poverty reduction and reductions in

to poverty reduction and reductions in

to poverty reduction and reductions in inequality of parents in our

inequality of parents in our

inequality of parents in our grandparents and our great-grandparents

grandparents and our great-grandparents

grandparents and our great-grandparents escaped famines pogroms Wars by being

escaped famines pogroms Wars by being

escaped famines pogroms Wars by being refugees and by being migrants none of

refugees and by being migrants none of

refugees and by being migrants none of us would be here tonight if that have

us would be here tonight if that have

us would be here tonight if that have not happened a third of Ireland migrated

not happened a third of Ireland migrated

not happened a third of Ireland migrated a third of Sweden migrated a third of

a third of Sweden migrated a third of

a third of Sweden migrated a third of Italy migrated that’s how those people

Italy migrated that’s how those people

Italy migrated that’s how those people and their grandparents maintained their

and their grandparents maintained their

and their grandparents maintained their families and survived but those walls

families and survived but those walls

families and survived but those walls that are going up now in keeping people

that are going up now in keeping people

that are going up now in keeping people out mean that people are trapped in

out mean that people are trapped in

out mean that people are trapped in poverty they cannot escape and that

poverty they cannot escape and that

poverty they cannot escape and that trapping is going to increase poverty in

trapping is going to increase poverty in

trapping is going to increase poverty in many many ways within our societies

many many ways within our societies

many many ways within our societies there’s also been capture there’s been

there’s also been capture there’s been

there’s also been capture there’s been capture of government by their very

capture of government by their very

capture of government by their very wealthy and this has to be reversed if

wealthy and this has to be reversed if

wealthy and this has to be reversed if we to overcome poverty and reduce

we to overcome poverty and reduce

we to overcome poverty and reduce inequality the top 1% of

inequality the top 1% of

inequality the top 1% of people in the u.s. now have 40% of the

people in the u.s. now have 40% of the

people in the u.s. now have 40% of the wealth they had 30% before the financial

wealth they had 30% before the financial

wealth they had 30% before the financial crisis in the UK the equivalent number

crisis in the UK the equivalent number

crisis in the UK the equivalent number is that had about 19% before the

is that had about 19% before the

is that had about 19% before the financial crisis and today they have 25%

financial crisis and today they have 25%

financial crisis and today they have 25% this is not simply because they’ve been

this is not simply because they’ve been

this is not simply because they’ve been able to hold on to their assets and

able to hold on to their assets and

able to hold on to their assets and diversify as we learn from The Guardian

diversify as we learn from The Guardian

diversify as we learn from The Guardian Paradise financial structures or Panama

Paradise financial structures or Panama

Paradise financial structures or Panama but also because poor people don’t have

but also because poor people don’t have

but also because poor people don’t have the savings to withstand these crises

the savings to withstand these crises

the savings to withstand these crises and because the rich are able to buy the

and because the rich are able to buy the

and because the rich are able to buy the lobbying power to put them in power and

lobbying power to put them in power and

lobbying power to put them in power and of course to reduce taxes and taxes are

of course to reduce taxes and taxes are

of course to reduce taxes and taxes are absolutely central to the redistribution

absolutely central to the redistribution

absolutely central to the redistribution of income and expenditures which are

of income and expenditures which are

of income and expenditures which are vital for poverty reduction for

vital for poverty reduction for

vital for poverty reduction for investing in social security safety nets

investing in social security safety nets

investing in social security safety nets for investing in health in education in

for investing in health in education in

for investing in health in education in unemployment benefit and all these other

unemployment benefit and all these other

unemployment benefit and all these other things and so the capture of

things and so the capture of

things and so the capture of government’s by elites

government’s by elites

government’s by elites is a deeply troubling thing and has to

is a deeply troubling thing and has to

is a deeply troubling thing and has to be stopped if we to eliminate poverty

be stopped if we to eliminate poverty

be stopped if we to eliminate poverty and inequality we need to ensure that we

and inequality we need to ensure that we

and inequality we need to ensure that we know that our voice is heard in

know that our voice is heard in

know that our voice is heard in government and that the voice of the

government and that the voice of the

government and that the voice of the wealthy and wealthiest is not more

wealthy and wealthiest is not more

wealthy and wealthiest is not more powerful than ours that is the

powerful than ours that is the

powerful than ours that is the fundamental basis of a democracy but

fundamental basis of a democracy but

fundamental basis of a democracy but when you need billions of dollars to

when you need billions of dollars to

when you need billions of dollars to become the President of the United

become the President of the United

become the President of the United States tens of millions of dollars to be

States tens of millions of dollars to be

States tens of millions of dollars to be a congress person you can hardly say

a congress person you can hardly say

a congress person you can hardly say that ordinary people can become a

that ordinary people can become a

that ordinary people can become a president and so our political

president and so our political

president and so our political structures need to change and when you

structures need to change and when you

structures need to change and when you see the populism and the anger you

see the populism and the anger you

see the populism and the anger you wonder why their people are saying we

wonder why their people are saying we

wonder why their people are saying we don’t trust the experts we don’t trust

don’t trust the experts we don’t trust

don’t trust the experts we don’t trust Authority we don’t trust globalization

Authority we don’t trust globalization

Authority we don’t trust globalization my view is that because the system has

my view is that because the system has

my view is that because the system has let people down terribly badly there is

let people down terribly badly there is

let people down terribly badly there is rising inequality the world is far from

rising inequality the world is far from

rising inequality the world is far from being more flat is being more

being more flat is being more

being more flat is being more mountainous it is more and more

mountainous it is more and more

mountainous it is more and more difficult

difficult

difficult to be at the frontier of change ratios

to be at the frontier of change ratios

to be at the frontier of change ratios of rentals or house prices in London not

of rentals or house prices in London not

of rentals or house prices in London not least in this area where we are here to

least in this area where we are here to

least in this area where we are here to income are at record highs and the same

income are at record highs and the same

income are at record highs and the same is true of every dynamic city in the

is true of every dynamic city in the

is true of every dynamic city in the world if you in these right places at

world if you in these right places at

world if you in these right places at the right times with the right skills

the right times with the right skills

the right times with the right skills you do very well but if you not it’s

you do very well but if you not it’s

you do very well but if you not it’s more and more difficult to get yeah and

more and more difficult to get yeah and

more and more difficult to get yeah and that’s why the divides within our

that’s why the divides within our

that’s why the divides within our society the divides between London and

society the divides between London and

society the divides between London and the South East of England and the rest

the South East of England and the rest

the South East of England and the rest of England or between the coastal and

of England or between the coastal and

of England or between the coastal and dynamic cities of the US and the Midwest

dynamic cities of the US and the Midwest

dynamic cities of the US and the Midwest or Mumbai and the rest of India or

or Mumbai and the rest of India or

or Mumbai and the rest of India or Shanghai and the countryside in China or

Shanghai and the countryside in China or

Shanghai and the countryside in China or greater and greater inequality is

greater and greater inequality is

greater and greater inequality is economic geography inequalities about

economic geography inequalities about

economic geography inequalities about where people are about place and about

where people are about place and about

where people are about place and about whether people can be there unemployment

whether people can be there unemployment

whether people can be there unemployment in London is an almost record low

in London is an almost record low

in London is an almost record low incomes are relatively high but if you

incomes are relatively high but if you

incomes are relatively high but if you can’t get here you can’t be part of that

can’t get here you can’t be part of that

can’t get here you can’t be part of that and so addressing things like housing

and so addressing things like housing

and so addressing things like housing markets transport systems getting to

markets transport systems getting to

markets transport systems getting to places becomes essential to this if

places becomes essential to this if

places becomes essential to this if you’re in the Midwest of the US today

you’re in the Midwest of the US today

you’re in the Midwest of the US today your life expectancy in many towns of

your life expectancy in many towns of

your life expectancy in many towns of the Midwest is lower than your parents

the Midwest is lower than your parents

the Midwest is lower than your parents the prospects of getting a job or lower

the prospects of getting a job or lower

the prospects of getting a job or lower than your parents and your chances of

than your parents and your chances of

than your parents and your chances of moving home are half of what your

moving home are half of what your

moving home are half of what your parents were and your unemployment rates

parents were and your unemployment rates

parents were and your unemployment rates are double and then you wonder why

are double and then you wonder why

are double and then you wonder why people vote for Trump and extremists the

people vote for Trump and extremists the

people vote for Trump and extremists the system is not working for ordinary

system is not working for ordinary

system is not working for ordinary people in many parts of the world and

people in many parts of the world and

people in many parts of the world and this is a fault not only of the

this is a fault not only of the

this is a fault not only of the right-wing governments but of the

right-wing governments but of the

right-wing governments but of the left-wing governments too people have

left-wing governments too people have

left-wing governments too people have been let down there are new forces

been let down there are new forces

been let down there are new forces coming which will compound this problem

coming which will compound this problem

coming which will compound this problem that we need to think very deeply about

that we need to think very deeply about

that we need to think very deeply about one of them is automation groups in the

one of them is automation groups in the

one of them is automation groups in the Oxford Martin School estimate that about

Oxford Martin School estimate that about

Oxford Martin School estimate that about 40% of UK jobs forty-seven percent in

40% of UK jobs forty-seven percent in

40% of UK jobs forty-seven percent in the u.s. about 60% in China are

the u.s. about 60% in China are

the u.s. about 60% in China are vulnerable to machine intelligence and

vulnerable to machine intelligence and

vulnerable to machine intelligence and robotics over the next 20 years

robotics over the next 20 years

robotics over the next 20 years anything that’s very routine and rules

anything that’s very routine and rules

anything that’s very routine and rules based whether it’s manufacturing

based whether it’s manufacturing

based whether it’s manufacturing something or a call center or

something or a call center or

something or a call center or back office and administrative tasks can

back office and administrative tasks can

back office and administrative tasks can be done by computers in the future and

be done by computers in the future and

be done by computers in the future and robotics so what is our development

robotics so what is our development

robotics so what is our development model how are people going to be

model how are people going to be

model how are people going to be employed and these are the reasons I’m

employed and these are the reasons I’m

employed and these are the reasons I’m setting out why I say we need to

setting out why I say we need to

setting out why I say we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that we

redouble our efforts to ensure that we

redouble our efforts to ensure that we don’t look back on this time and say

don’t look back on this time and say

don’t look back on this time and say this was the successful time in poverty

this was the successful time in poverty

this was the successful time in poverty reduction because we have an ambition we

reduction because we have an ambition we

reduction because we have an ambition we have an ambition that we know more than

have an ambition that we know more than

have an ambition that we know more than ever before we have more learning we

ever before we have more learning we

ever before we have more learning we more have more capacity to understand

more have more capacity to understand

more have more capacity to understand what’s happening none of us can say we

what’s happening none of us can say we

what’s happening none of us can say we don’t know that’s happening

don’t know that’s happening

don’t know that’s happening our veil of ignorance has been lifted by

our veil of ignorance has been lifted by

our veil of ignorance has been lifted by the power of social media of information

the power of social media of information

the power of social media of information that we have so let’s not wherever we

that we have so let’s not wherever we

that we have so let’s not wherever we are in the world say we don’t know and

are in the world say we don’t know and

are in the world say we don’t know and we also can’t say we don’t know what to

we also can’t say we don’t know what to

we also can’t say we don’t know what to do because there are thousands and

do because there are thousands and

do because there are thousands and thousands of case studies of people that

thousands of case studies of people that

thousands of case studies of people that have escaped poverty of systems that are

have escaped poverty of systems that are

have escaped poverty of systems that are working the way that the estate that the

working the way that the estate that the

working the way that the estate that the financial crisis has impacted on

financial crisis has impacted on

financial crisis has impacted on different countries is extremely

different countries is extremely

different countries is extremely different in some countries it didn’t

different in some countries it didn’t

different in some countries it didn’t lead to any increase in inequality or

lead to any increase in inequality or

lead to any increase in inequality or poverty and in others poverty and

poverty and in others poverty and

poverty and in others poverty and inequality was increased dramatically

inequality was increased dramatically

inequality was increased dramatically there are great experiments going on all

there are great experiments going on all

there are great experiments going on all over the world which show what can be

over the world which show what can be

over the world which show what can be done and there are inspirational people

done and there are inspirational people

done and there are inspirational people all over the world that show that we as

all over the world that show that we as

all over the world that show that we as individuals can make a difference that

individuals can make a difference that

individuals can make a difference that we can spark off each other that we can

we can spark off each other that we can

we can spark off each other that we can learn more rapidly because we have this

learn more rapidly because we have this

learn more rapidly because we have this connectivity so the excuses are fading

connectivity so the excuses are fading

connectivity so the excuses are fading away it’s become a time of choice it’s

away it’s become a time of choice it’s

away it’s become a time of choice it’s become a time when we need to say what’s

become a time when we need to say what’s

become a time when we need to say what’s important to us what do we believe in

important to us what do we believe in

important to us what do we believe in how much difference are we as

how much difference are we as

how much difference are we as individuals going to make to this

individuals going to make to this

individuals going to make to this problem and the ideas that you hear are

problem and the ideas that you hear are

problem and the ideas that you hear are I hope inspirational to you and we’ll

I hope inspirational to you and we’ll

I hope inspirational to you and we’ll help you make that difference thank you

help you make that difference thank you

help you make that difference thank you very much

very much

very much [Applause]

”

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