Introduction and background
The Spirit Level is an exploration of the impacts of inequality on society. The book argues that inequality has a causal link with social ills, including but not limited to obesity, teenage pregnancy and crime. It also argues that everyone benefits from greater equality, even the rich. The authors, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, have academic backgrounds in epidemiology. A field to which Pickett has devoted her entire career, Wilkinson meanwhile, initially studied economic history.
Wilkinson and Pickett contribute to wider popular scholarship regarding inequality since the economic crisis of 2008. A wide range of authors from Robert Frank to Michael Schwalbe published numerous books on inequality in tandem the …show more content…
Moreover, the authors suggest that more equal societies take environmental regulations and foreign aid more seriously. Perhaps most importantly, the book suggests that the social fabric of a country will improve as it becomes more equal.
Strengths of The Spirit Level
One of the great strengths of the work is that Wilkinson and Pickett use data from a far-ranging array of sources from newspaper articles to peer-reviewed journals. Whilst some aspects of the book are original, extensive sourcing of information provides a solid foundation. It is also likely to make the book appealing to those more familiar with current affairs than academic discourse, likely broadening the impact of the work.
The Spirit Level is also comprehensive, it scrutinises numerous social issues across many countries and territories. This provides breadth of analysis and depth which enhances the credibility of the book. The use of national and state level samples is particularly helpful, as it to some extent protects the authors from accusations that the correlations are caused culturally: as through cross-comparisons within a more consistent culture (US states), that risk is …show more content…
Firstly, it is difficult to establish causality from correlation. Even the strong R2 values and P values fail to prove this all important question. Therefore, whether one accepts the conclusions of Wilkinson and Pickett to some extent depends on whether or not one wants to be convinced. This is particularly they case when considering that inequality is the only variable compared with the social issues considered.
Additionally, concerns have also been raised that the argument in The Spirit Level is based on a flawed hypothesis: that income inequality reflects a hierarchical society whereas Japan has been seen as such despite low income inequality (Kerbo and McKinstry, 1995). Similarly, critics have also argued the authors’ approach to hierarchy is overly simplistic. However, the authors strongly reject these accusations (Wilkinson and Pickett,
The Spirit Level is an exploration of the impacts of inequality on society. The book argues that inequality has a causal link with social ills, including but not limited to obesity, teenage pregnancy and crime. It also argues that everyone benefits from greater equality, even the rich. The authors, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, have academic backgrounds in epidemiology. A field to which Pickett has devoted her entire career, Wilkinson meanwhile, initially studied economic history.
Wilkinson and Pickett contribute to wider popular scholarship regarding inequality since the economic crisis of 2008. A wide range of authors from Robert Frank to Michael Schwalbe published numerous books on inequality in tandem the …show more content…
Moreover, the authors suggest that more equal societies take environmental regulations and foreign aid more seriously. Perhaps most importantly, the book suggests that the social fabric of a country will improve as it becomes more equal.
Strengths of The Spirit Level
One of the great strengths of the work is that Wilkinson and Pickett use data from a far-ranging array of sources from newspaper articles to peer-reviewed journals. Whilst some aspects of the book are original, extensive sourcing of information provides a solid foundation. It is also likely to make the book appealing to those more familiar with current affairs than academic discourse, likely broadening the impact of the work.
The Spirit Level is also comprehensive, it scrutinises numerous social issues across many countries and territories. This provides breadth of analysis and depth which enhances the credibility of the book. The use of national and state level samples is particularly helpful, as it to some extent protects the authors from accusations that the correlations are caused culturally: as through cross-comparisons within a more consistent culture (US states), that risk is …show more content…
Firstly, it is difficult to establish causality from correlation. Even the strong R2 values and P values fail to prove this all important question. Therefore, whether one accepts the conclusions of Wilkinson and Pickett to some extent depends on whether or not one wants to be convinced. This is particularly they case when considering that inequality is the only variable compared with the social issues considered.
Additionally, concerns have also been raised that the argument in The Spirit Level is based on a flawed hypothesis: that income inequality reflects a hierarchical society whereas Japan has been seen as such despite low income inequality (Kerbo and McKinstry, 1995). Similarly, critics have also argued the authors’ approach to hierarchy is overly simplistic. However, the authors strongly reject these accusations (Wilkinson and Pickett,