Although I think Paul Ashton is right in spirit, there's no necessary
contradiction between the two positions: it is possible to reduce child
poverty while the gap between rich and poor increases. Child poverty is
being measured in relationship to the median income; the range of
inequality, and so the ratio of rich to poor, can increase without affecting
the median. The argument depends, however, on the view that increases in
the highest incomes have no effect on the social position or the economic
distance of those on the lowest incomes. I suspect Blair would be happy to
agree with that proposition, even if many subscribers to this list would
take the opposite view.
Paul Spicker
University of Dundee
Dundee DD1 4HN
Scotland
Tel: + 44 1382 344929
Fax: + 44 1382 344675
Website: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/politics/socialpolicy
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