Leading academics call on Burnham to back UN drive against inequality
A coalition of forty distinguished scholars, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level, has issued an open letter pressing the Greate…
A coalition of forty distinguished scholars, including N…
A coalition of forty distinguished scholars, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level, has issued an open letter pressing the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, to endorse a fresh international effort to combat economic disparity.
The signatories represent a broad spectrum of progressive economic thought, featuring University College London professor Mariana Mazzucato, London School of Economics vice-chancellor Larry Kramer, and numerous other prominent figures from across the globe. Their collective appeal underscores the urgency of addressing widening gaps in wealth and opportunity.
The letter urges Burnham to commit the city-region to the United Nations initiative, which aims to foster policy coherence and collaborative action on inequality. The academics argue that local leadership is vital in translating global principles into tangible change, particularly in regions like Greater Manchester that have experienced significant economic restructuring.
Highlighting the moral and practical imperatives, the le…
Highlighting the moral and practical imperatives, the letter warns that unchecked inequality undermines social cohesion and economic stability. It cites evidence from The Spirit Level and other research demonstrating that more equal societies tend to fare better on a range of health and social outcomes.
Burnham, who has previously championed progressive policies in the region, has not yet responded publicly. However, the call carries weight given the signatories' collective expertise and the growing momentum behind the UN's efforts to embed inequality reduction in sustainable development goals.
The initiative comes at a time when global attention is increasingly focused on the pandemic's uneven economic fallout, making the academics' plea particularly timely. They believe that a strong commitment from a high-profile leader like Burnham could inspire other cities and regions to follow suit.