Important: measures of wealth inequality are NOT measures of poverty! Global wealth has become much more concentrated as poverty has *simultaneously* DECLINED dramatically. Models that don't make this distinction are likely to make harmful prescriptions https://ourworldindata.org/a-history-of-global-living-conditions-in-5-charts …https://twitter.com/_JamieWhyte/status/1042153627530547206 …
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Replying to @webdevMason
Extreme poverty has declined dramatically, but I think this is a pretty low bar for poverty Inequality and globalization have gone hand in hand. Quality of opportunities for educated and uneducated ppl in developing world has declined. A lot of anecdotal evidence on this
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Replying to @santigoodtime @webdevMason
Through globalization Colombians import US shows, tvs, phones, cars, candy, computers, internet services Colombians export coffee, emeralds, oil Over time, gap increases, and Colombians need to work harder for today's basic services (computers), not captured as extreme poverty
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Replying to @santigoodtime
Wait, do you believe there was ever a time in the past where extreme poverty was more prevalent but the global poor were working *less hard* for "basic services (computers)"?
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Replying to @webdevMason
I think so The industrialization gap b/w countries was a lot less 50 years ago My grandma worked as a travel agent in Colombia w/o an education and could afford most services. A lot of these jobs are now automated, so harder to find good opportunities to afford basic services
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Replying to @santigoodtime @webdevMason
While I specifically mention travel agent, I think this is true for most high paying office jobs. Countries like mine rely on internet services like Uber Airbnb, but don't have any companies like this locally that provide high paying engineering jobs
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Replying to @santigoodtime
You believe that Colombians had greater access to *computers* *50 years ago*? Like, what is the claim here?
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Replying to @webdevMason
Sorry - I mean *basic services* defined as things every household should have 60 years ago - meant food & health 30 years ago - also phones and radio Now - also computers and internet I'm saying bc of industrialization gap, harder to afford *today's* basic services
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Replying to @santigoodtime
This is kind of the point, no? In a hypothetical future where most households have a teleportation portal, there won't be much point in nostalgia for a time when an even greater percentage had a horse and buggy. You want perfect equality, you just have to undo *agriculture.*
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This is *exactly* what I'm getting at when I make a distinction between wealth inequality and poverty. A world with extreme wealth inequality where, nevertheless, the poorest have enough food, healthcare, and shelter is remarkably better than a perfectly equal hellscape.
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Replying to @webdevMason
You're right that internet, computers, etc is fundamentally good I'm personally just concerned that for countries like mine, the list of imports (internet services, computers, cars, etc) will outpace the list of exports (coffee, emeralds). Cost of living outpaces opportunities
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Replying to @santigoodtime @webdevMason
Also, you're original tweet influenced me in inequality is a necessary externality of economic advancement and globalization. Appreciate you having engaged in this discussion with me
But I don't agree with the diagnosis that reversing inequality, will also reverse advancement1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes - Show replies
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