PHM-Exch> UNDP: Equity, Inequality and Human Development in a Post-2015 Framework

[Claudio Schuftan]

Equity, Inequality and Human Development in a Post-2015
Framework<http://www.worldwewant2015.org/node/342388>
26 Apr 2013 | Addressing Inequalities: *Bookmark* by
inequalities at worldwewant2015.org <http://www.worldwewant2015.org/user/79763>

*United Nations Development Programme*
Human Development Report Office
Research Paper
*February 2013*
Claire Melamed and Emma Samman, ODI

People everywhere face various kinds of inequalities. We live in a very
unequal world, in which the top 20 percent of the population enjoys more
than 70 percent of global income, while the bottom quintile shares a meagre
2 percent.

‘Equity, Inequality and Human Development in a post-2015 Framework’, a
contribution to the continuing global dialogue on the post-2015 agenda
published by UNDP’s Human Development Report Office, considers ways the
post-2015 agenda might tackle inequality in all its forms.

The authors, Claire Melamed and Emma Samman of the UK-based Overseas
Development Institute (ODI), argue that addressing inequality should be
central to the post-2015 development framework. Their paper says inequality
must be approached on multiple levels: within countries, among nations, and
between generations. Tracking inequalities – for example, the progress of
the poorest quintile of the population – is important, but to actually
reduce inequality, we must reduce the structural inequalities that cause
poverty, they say.

Their paper highlights some of the many examples of severe inequalities
that can be found both among and within countries today. Recent data
suggests that the poorest 5 percent of Americans earn 35 times more than
the poorest Zambians. Between 1980 and 2007, the top 1 percent of Americans
nearly tripled their share of U.S. national income, from 8 to 23 percent.
In Peru, young adults have a national average of 10 years of schooling –
but for poor indigenous women the average is just half that, with most
leaving school after just five years.

Inequalities are caused by structural barriers, and new as well as old
deprivations. A post-2015 development framework must find ways to build on
the progress that has already been made and identify policies that can
break down some of the barriers faced by the disadvantaged.

Melamed and Samman advocate for pragmatism in forging the next global
development agenda. While the world might be ready to set ambitious targets
in areas such as sustainable energy, water, sanitation, and access to
knowledge and technology, they point out that other areas like migration
and trade should also be taken into account. The authors demand an agenda
that pays more attention to social cohesion and social justice, and
emphasize that getting the metrics right is critical to improving the reach
and effectiveness as of public services.
Source: http://issuu.com/undp/docs/equity_inequality_human<http://issuu.com/undp/docs/equity_inequality_human_development_in_post-2015_f>

development_in_post-2015_f<http://issuu.com/undp/docs/equity_inequality_human_development_in_post-2015_f>
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