Progressive Taxation and Redistribution

The Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) is working to reverse the “great tax shift” that shifted the tax burden from corporations and the richest Americans to the middle and lower classes by supporting proposals to restore a progressive tax system. [See "Reversing the Great Tax Shift: Seven Steps to Finance Our Economic Recovery Fairly.]  This work involves mobilizing support from new constituencies, including business and religious leaders, to serve as leading advocates for progressive tax policies. Wealth for the Common Good, a network of business leaders and high net worth individuals advocating for shared prosperity and a progressive tax system, is a lead IPS partner in this work. It is currently lining up endorsements from influential members of the financial community for  a  Financial Speculation Tax aimed at reducing rampant financial speculation and raising revenue for essential social programs.

Health and Equality

Researchers in the field of public health are doing path-breaking research on the major contribution of inequality to poor health. They consistently find that relatively more equal societies enjoy better physical and mental health than less equal societies. The University of Washington Population Health Forum provides a useful guide to resources dealing with the link between equality and health. Richard Wilkinson is one of the leading researchers in this field. His article "What Difference Does Inequality Make?" reports a clear link between inequality and social dysfunction and argues that for high income countries managing the economy for equity is far more important than managing for GDP growth. His UK best seller, The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better, presents an exhaustive review of the research on inequality and social dysfunction.

Equitable Development

Inequalities in the built environment and communities must be overcome as part of a transformative strategy of change.  For authoritative treatment of how the dynamics of race and class play out in evolving regional land use patterns that segregate us by race and class and between privileged and under privileged neighborhoods, see Policy Link and the Center for Infrastructure Equity. These dynamics are described by Carl Anthony in an interview by Sarah van Gelder, "Diverse, Green, Beautiful Cities," YES!, Summer 1999. Paloma Pavel's edited volume Breakthrough Communities: Sustainability and Justice in the Next American Metropolis (2009) presents a series of case studies documenting how cities across the United States are dealing with this issue.

Broader Ownership Models and Shared Commonwealth

Inequality will be reduced through broader ownership of enterprise and greater access to the commons for all people. Efforts like the "Cleveland Project" are models of equitable development built on broad ownership models such as cooperative businesses and community land trusts. A healthy and more equal society will ensure equal access to a robust and well-managed commons -- including natural resources, socially created infrastructure, and knowledge.