In a podcast series, ESB (the non-academic journal for economics and policy in a broad sense) invites researchers from among others Erasmus School of Economics to join thought-provoking conversations with policymakers, politicians and academics from other universities. Recently, Hans van Kippersluis, Professor of Applied Economics at Erasmus School of Economics, was asked for his expertise.
Among other issues, this broadcast covered the health gap and opportunity inequality. Van Kippersluis starts with inequality in education. Research shows that in recent decades, the inequality has neither decreased nor increased. In contrast, inequality in health has increased. For instance, the difference in life expectancy between the highest and lowest income group is seven years. The difference in life expectancy in good health between those income groups is even twenty-two years.
Furthermore, the percentage of people earning more than their parents is decreasing. A worrying trend, Van Kippersluis says: 'this puts pressure on capitalism's promise that every generation will get better'. The professor adds that this is not just about income, but also that in other areas having it better than previous generations is under pressure.
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You can listen to the full episode from ESB, 27 October 2023, here.