4 ms·

Is it? I would love to see the proof of that. Afghanistan has one of the lowest Gini coefficients in the world. So inequality doesn't seem to be their problem.

dragonwriter 9y ago
You can look at the large body of work in the field of relative deprivation then; there's strong evidence that it is a powerful factor for most in developed countries, and it some evidence that it also is outside of the worst-off in less developed countries, but the poorest in LDCs seem to have absolute deprivation dominant as a source of disutility. (The research on LDCs is thinner and more recent, as historically most of the work has been done in relatively developed countries.)
- supreme_sublime 9y ago
  Sounds like envy to me. Which doesn't really seem like something we as a society should cater to. Instead people should learn to either be happy with what they have, or actively attempt to make steps to improve their life. There is no option to take from others for your own benefit or the supposed benefit of others, as that is theft. But let's say that's just not how the world is, envy is certainly a very real human emotion. What level of inequality is necessary to cause broad social unrest? Do we have anything close to a situation like in Venezuela? It is really cool how you are telling me to do the legwork and make your argument for you. Definitely productive.
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    > Sounds like envy to me. Which doesn't really seem like something we as a society should cater to. I'll repeat what i said before, anticipating exactly this line: You might have a moral or aesthetic preference that humans should not respond to inequality that way, but that is no more meaningful than a belief that they should not adversely react to oxygen deprivation. > It is really cool how you are telling me to do the legwork and make your argument for you. If you need a simple starting point that is freely available online, Income Satisfaction and Relative Deprivation: An Empirical Link, D’Ambrosio, C. & Frick, J.R. Soc Indic Res (2007) 81: 497. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Conchita_DAmbrosio/publication/225714229_Income_Satisfaction_and_Relative_Deprivation_An_Empirical_Link/links/57557c6208ae10c72b66a279.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Conchita_DAmbrosio/publ... But it's a big area of research, and if you are genuinely unfamiliar with it and concerned at all with economic development and related public policy, you are going to want to spend some time with the area

dragonwriter 9y ago

You can look at the large body of work in the field of relative deprivation then; there's strong evidence that it is a powerful factor for most in developed countries, and it some evidence that it also is outside of the worst-off in less developed countries, but the poorest in LDCs seem to have absolute deprivation dominant as a source of disutility. (The research on LDCs is thinner and more recent, as historically most of the work has been done in relatively developed countries.)

supreme_sublime 9y ago
Sounds like envy to me. Which doesn't really seem like something we as a society should cater to. Instead people should learn to either be happy with what they have, or actively attempt to make steps to improve their life. There is no option to take from others for your own benefit or the supposed benefit of others, as that is theft. But let's say that's just not how the world is, envy is certainly a very real human emotion. What level of inequality is necessary to cause broad social unrest? Do we have anything close to a situation like in Venezuela? It is really cool how you are telling me to do the legwork and make your argument for you. Definitely productive.
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  > Sounds like envy to me. Which doesn't really seem like something we as a society should cater to. I'll repeat what i said before, anticipating exactly this line: You might have a moral or aesthetic preference that humans should not respond to inequality that way, but that is no more meaningful than a belief that they should not adversely react to oxygen deprivation. > It is really cool how you are telling me to do the legwork and make your argument for you. If you need a simple starting point that is freely available online, Income Satisfaction and Relative Deprivation: An Empirical Link, D’Ambrosio, C. & Frick, J.R. Soc Indic Res (2007) 81: 497. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Conchita_DAmbrosio/publication/225714229_Income_Satisfaction_and_Relative_Deprivation_An_Empirical_Link/links/57557c6208ae10c72b66a279.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Conchita_DAmbrosio/publ... But it's a big area of research, and if you are genuinely unfamiliar with it and concerned at all with economic development and related public policy, you are going to want to spend some time with the area