The Natural Rights We Must Protect

Abstract

The author argues that the battle for the natural rights of citizens, including equality and freedom, must be reinvigorated. He reminds us how economic growth coupled with progressive taxes and a growing social safety net protected those rights in the three decades after World War II. Beginning in the 1970s a long period of erosion began, leading to the alarming rise of right-wing populism today. What can be done?

Notes

See the US News/McKinsey “Best States” evaluation of American states as just one example: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states?utm_source=All%20Poynter%20Subscribers&utm_campaign=222b0f6b27-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_02_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5372046825-222b0f6b27-257888257.

The IMF’s “Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality: A Global Perspective” provides an invaluable technical introduction to these issues; https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Staff-Discussion-Notes/Issues/2016/12/31/Causes-and-Consequences-of-Income-Inequality-A-Global-Perspective-42986.

For a detailed review of The Spirit Level and systemic models for implementing its recommendations, see The Equality Trust, https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/the-spirit-level.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard Parker

An Oxford-trained economist, Richard Parker teaches at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.