Episode 70
Will Income Inequality Destroy the Earth?
We shift from the overpopulation myth because respectable mainstream opinion has changed. Even the political left has criticized the former overpopulation alarmism as potentially "racist" and bigoted toward poorer people.
But the new alarmism in the recent decade is that "income inequality" is the new dragon to slay. We tackle two claims of how income inequality crushes civilization:
- Income inequality destroys the environment
- Income inequality kills poor people
Understanding how the economy is an interwoven tapestry of mutual exchanges shows how the wealthy do not "overconsume," nor do they do so in a vacuum. And the real underconsumption of wealthy investment actually improves the lives of everyone in the economy.
Sources Cited:
Heather Alberro, Nottingham Trent University, "Why we should be wary of blaming 'overpopulation' for the climate crisis," January 28, 2020.
Stephen Bezruchka, "Inequality Kills," April 2, 2014.
"Life expectancy in the United States, 1860-2020"
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 22:2
1 Corinthians 4:7-8
Matthew 25:14-29
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