The most convincing econoimc argument that I have seen rests on 2 pillars - first, a healthy economy depends on healthy demand, and capitalist economies collapse when demand collapses - reducing poverty is an important counter-cyclical economic strategy because the poor spend 100% of whatever marginal increases in income they can achieve. Second, the rich spend their marginal increases in income on imported goods - the poor tend to spend their increases on internally generated goods
Dave
David Young
Senior Social Scientist
Knowledge Building Team
Cancer Control Research Institute
100 Drummond St
Carlton Vic 3053
Phone: +61 3 9635 5123
Mobile: 04 1933 5308
Fax: +61 3 9635 5440
email: [log in to unmask]
www.quit.org.au
www.smokefree.org.au
"Don't give me your perfect offering, there's a crack, a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in"; Leonard Cohen, "Anthem"
-----Original Message-----
From: Social Determinants of Health [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Thompson, Kenneth
Sent: Tuesday, 15 November 2005 9:04 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SDOH] economic argument for poverty solutions
hi all,
this is an important question for me down here in pittsburgh, where the agenda, after the decline of steel, is, how can this region revitalize its economy? what role does the region have in the world economy?
the major focus is on finding work for the middle class- and this largely depends on government subsidies (our biggest employers are medical and educational institutions). there is hope that biotech will carry us into the future...
but what about the rest of the people? odd as it seems, making the argument that these folks matter in the rejuvenation of pittsburgh has been difficult. its been even harder to argue that their health matters (of course folks on this list know that ill health and poverty are the same...).
amartya sen has been arguing that, in the "developing world" it is critical to make investments in human capacity for an economy and a people to flourish. and health is a critical human capacity. i have been trying to extend this argument here in pittsburgh, saying that in a "redeveloping region" there is a need for human capacity and, therefore health...and efforts against poverty..
it will be no surprise that this has been tough going. one of the issues is the racialization of poverty- meaning that race/ethnicity almost entirely subsumes any discussion of class- which means that only race based solutions are sought, most of which cant change the dynamics driving class.. so pushing for health becomes pushing for health for black folks (nothing wrong in that but it ignores the overall economic structure afflicting white and black together)..
ken
________________________________
From: Social Determinants of Health on behalf of Christa Freiler
Sent: Mon 11/14/2005 4:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SDOH] economic argument for poverty solutions
In response to Stasha's question on how it is possible to move an agenda forward based on the argument that poverty costs us all, there are a number of cross-Canada and national initiatives doing that. Using that argument, they proceed by developing and promoting policy "solutions" or priorities for action by different levels of government.
These initiatives include:
1. Campaign 2000, a cross-Canada coalition of about 90 organizations (see www.campaign2000)
2. Inclusive Cities Canada, a cross-Canada initiative to enhance social inclusion in cities and communities across Canada (see www.inclusivecities.ca).
2. The Canadian School Boards Association had a campaign with school boards across Canada a few years ago where they developed materials talking about what school boards can do.
This is just a beginning . Christa
----- Original Message -----
From: Donahue, Stasha <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 1:40 PM
Subject: Re: [SDOH] economic argument for poverty solutions
Good Comment Sara.
Lots of discussion to follow from the group I hope. Regionally in southern Alberta we have tried influencing local and municipal decison-makers with a social marketing campaign outlining the costs of poverty for communities. We are currently doing a dog and pony show highlighting findings of our latest regional report card and following up with school boards and municipalities with discussion on how poverty costs us all. We do need more data on this though to keep illustrating our point.
Hope we can get there provincially too with the work of the Alberta Healthy Living Network-Health Disparities Working Group, Alberta Public Health Association and the Alberta Social Health Equity Network.
How could this be done nationally? I think we need points on all 3 fronts to influence decision-makers.
Thoughts everyone?
Stasha Donahue
Chinook Health Region Population Health Facilitator:
Child Poverty and Community Development
Box 520
Fort Macleod Alberta T0L 0Z0
Phone: (403) 553-5352
______________________________________________
From a conversation Dennis and I had a couple of weeks ago, have been mulling over this.
Has anyone come across a convincing economic reason for governments to address poverty? If we are trying to combat neoliberalism and the power of market forces, is there an argument that can be made that would influence those in the middle and upper SEL beyond social justice? Is this something that we need to even consider or is the 'because it is the right thing to do' argument enough? The evidence is so strong in terms of the effects of poverty on the individual and family... is looking at the cost to society a convincing argument that is going to call people to action?
If all in society are in agreement that poverty is bad, and we can get emotional seeing sad pictures on the tv, and hearing heartbreaking stories of people's struggles, what is it that keeps society from really working towards solutions? How can we mobilize our society to really make this a priority issue for policy makers and those in power? Could using the language and arguments of the market be a strategy?
oh, the mulling continues.
Sara
Sara Farrell, RN, MPA
Community Health Officer-North Region
Toronto Public Health
5100 Yonge Street, 2nd Fl
Toronto, M2N 5V7
416-338-0021
fax 416-338-8550
[log in to unmask]
------------------- Problems/Questions? Send it to Listserv owner: [log in to unmask]
To unsubscribe, send the following message in the text section -- NOT the subject header -- to [log in to unmask] SIGNOFF SDOH
DO NOT SEND IT BY HITTING THE REPLY BUTTON. THIS SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE LISTSERV AND STILL DOES NOT REMOVE YOU.
To subscribe to the SDOH list, send the following message to [log in to unmask] in the text section, NOT in the subject header. SUBSCRIBE SDOH yourfirstname yourlastname
To post a message to all 1000+ subscribers, send it to [log in to unmask] Include in the Subject, its content, and location and date, if relevant.
For a list of SDOH members, send a request to [log in to unmask]
To receive messages only once a day, send the following message to [log in to unmask] SET SDOH DIGEST
To view the SDOH archives, go to: https://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/sdoh.html
------------------- Problems/Questions? Send it to Listserv owner: [log in to unmask]
To unsubscribe, send the following message in the text section -- NOT the subject header -- to [log in to unmask] SIGNOFF SDOH
DO NOT SEND IT BY HITTING THE REPLY BUTTON. THIS SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE LISTSERV AND STILL DOES NOT REMOVE YOU.
To subscribe to the SDOH list, send the following message to [log in to unmask] in the text section, NOT in the subject header. SUBSCRIBE SDOH yourfirstname yourlastname
To post a message to all 1000+ subscribers, send it to [log in to unmask] Include in the Subject, its content, and location and date, if relevant.
For a list of SDOH members, send a request to [log in to unmask]
To receive messages only once a day, send the following message to [log in to unmask] SET SDOH DIGEST
To view the SDOH archives, go to: https://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/sdoh.html
-------------------
Problems/Questions? Send it to Listserv owner: [log in to unmask]
To unsubscribe, send the following message in the text section -- NOT the subject header -- to [log in to unmask]
SIGNOFF SDOH
DO NOT SEND IT BY HITTING THE REPLY BUTTON. THIS SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE LISTSERV AND STILL DOES NOT REMOVE YOU.
To subscribe to the SDOH list, send the following message to [log in to unmask] in the text section, NOT in the subject header.
SUBSCRIBE SDOH yourfirstname yourlastname
To post a message to all 1000+ subscribers, send it to [log in to unmask]
Include in the Subject, its content, and location and date, if relevant.
For a list of SDOH members, send a request to [log in to unmask]
To receive messages only once a day, send the following message to [log in to unmask]
SET SDOH DIGEST
To view the SDOH archives, go to: https://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/sdoh.html
-------------------
Problems/Questions? Send it to Listserv owner: [log in to unmask]
To unsubscribe, send the following message in the text section -- NOT the subject header -- to [log in to unmask]
SIGNOFF SDOH
DO NOT SEND IT BY HITTING THE REPLY BUTTON. THIS SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE LISTSERV AND STILL DOES NOT REMOVE YOU.
To subscribe to the SDOH list, send the following message to [log in to unmask] in the text section, NOT in the subject header.
SUBSCRIBE SDOH yourfirstname yourlastname
To post a message to all 1000+ subscribers, send it to [log in to unmask]
Include in the Subject, its content, and location and date, if relevant.
For a list of SDOH members, send a request to [log in to unmask]
To receive messages only once a day, send the following message to [log in to unmask]
SET SDOH DIGEST
To view the SDOH archives, go to: https://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/sdoh.html
|
