www.ted.com We feel instinctively that societies with huge income gaps are somehow going wrong. Richard Wilkinson charts the hard data on economic inequality, and shows what gets worse when rich and poor are too far apart real effects on health, lifespan, even such basic values as trust.TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the “Sixth Sense” wearable tech, and “Lost” producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com

28 Responses to “Richard Wilkinson: How economic inequality harms societies”

  • fuckyeahEPIC:

    He proved “HOW economic inequality harms societies”. You’re fixated on the ‘why’ which isn’t the topic at all. That’s why he only glanced over it at the end. Seems like you just have preconceptions against income equality and you’re trying to half-ass an argument. Are you an expert? The speaker and many TED guests are experts. Someone like you would illogically use causality in any statistical analysis you don’t agree with. If you want information on the causality, go contact his research group.

  • adefaira:

    No, the speaker didn’t apply the concept of correlation implies causality. Where are these experts you speak of? I’m aware that it’s possible correlation is pointing to causation – but it doesn’t prove it. As such you need to do something else to prove it or it remains speculation. This speaker didn’t meet that burden.Your guess is wrong – I don’t believe climate change is a myth. Care to wrongly guess I’m religious too? What else will you get wrong? You’re not batting 1000!

  • fuckyeahEPIC:

    Pretentious people like to point out the obvious and use it as a counterpoint. As if expert statisticians did not know about causality!

  • fuckyeahEPIC:

    Congrats you learned the concept of correlation and causation, but everyone in the room knows that. It’s funny. You’re arrogant enough to think you discredited his talk with a basic concept that somehow all the EXPERTS in the room have missed. Your argument is due to poor reasoning and misunderstanding. Just because correlation does not imply causation, does NOT mean there isn’t any causation. Let me guess, you think Global Warming is a myth as well. You’re really not worth talking to.

  • adefaira:

    It doesn’t matter if it’s his main point. It is a fallacy that he is building his viewpoint on. As such, with no real foundation, his viewpoint falls apart. I’m not missing the big picture – I’m saying your foundation is faulty thus your conclusions are suspect. I’m not missing his message – his message is in error as it hinges on the assumption that correlation implies causation. Fix that and then we can talk.

  • fuckyeahEPIC:

    Do you really think causation is the main point of his talk? The title of his talk isn’t WHY… it’s HOW. You’re being too simplistic. He is NOT saying leveling income will automatically fix everything. You’re focusing on individual things and missing the big picture. Income inequality isn’t the causation. The causation is government policies. Income Equality is just a very telling correlation to how healthy policies are to a society. You’re misunderstanding the message.

  • MrOmnisaurus:

    A third world country is a country that took a neutral stance during the Cold War. First world is the U.S. and its allies.

  • adefaira:

    The point is that correlation does not imply causation. Sure he gives it lip service after 90% of his talk and he just implies that somebody has some data some where. He also states that violence increases because people don’t like being looked down on. Makes sense and *sounds* good. Problem is all data indicates that violence has gone down which pretty much kills that argument. This guy’s talking shite.

  • LordOrlock:

    Go to 15:37.

    He talks about causality specifically.

    So please watch the entire video before asking questions yes?

  • adefaira:

    Has anybody told this dude about wikipediia(dot)org/ wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation?

  • Hirnlego999:

    A swedish study, translated:
    Students with few friends and low status in the class gets poorer health as adults. If there is unequal distribution of status in the class also affected health effects in adulthood, even for students with high status, according to research from the University of Stockholm.
    The students who had low status among their peers have a higher risk of being hospitalized for such mental health problems, alcohol and drug abuse, heart disease and diabetes.
    Wilkinson=correct!

  • atosafi1:

    It’s based on the book “The Spirit Level”, a book that argues for why equality is to the benefit of all and not just the poor and oppressed.

  • MrImjewish:

    I can destroy his entire case:CAUSATION AND CORRELATION. i urge you all to look it up. You cant compare countries which are ridiculously diverse from each other. His ONLY causal link for The his point was that people have social problems as a result of Inequality. This may be true, but does this single answer justify all of his claims? I think not!

  • XxMREDxX:

    Is this presentation the study of anthropology or sociology or something else ?

  • XxMREDxX:

    Is this presentation the study of sociology or anthropology or something else?

  • MrJoey1971:

    Judging by these data, the US looks like a third world country!

  • ontheotherhandx6:

    Do you know/understand what psychosocial stress is?
    I’ll help you out a bit, it’s a direct byproduct of income inequality, and it directly leads to poorer health, regardless of the state of healthcare. (but your stance on ‘entitlements’ is flat out ignorant. SS is not even one.)
    and violence is hardly ‘human nature’ as it directly correlates with societal inequality (which is the same as economic inequality)
    By being for income inequality, you’re saying you’re for more violence and poorer health

  • po5166:

    How about you stop capitalists from charging obscene rates for services. I went to Estonia, had blood tests and xrays, was examined and diagnosed by a doctor. 40 Euros.
    How much would this have cost in America?

  • Phishhobby:

    Our public healthcare system is nice, indeed. But the Medicare and Medicaid Federal Trust Fund is already running out of money. Our deficit is still growing, and our GDP growth is not catching up. I say, we need to start increasing corporate tax on the medical industry.

  • Hirnlego999:

    Watch also on youtube:
    “Frans de Waal: Moral behavior in animals”
    watch?v=GcJxRqTs5nk

  • Dewkeeper:

    As a finn, I feel obligated to bring your conclusion into question by pointing out that we’ve got a great, public healthcare system. If anything, it’s the fact that the medical industry has strong ties to the entrenched power in the US government that’s causing everything to suck for you guys.

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