Inequality 27, ADR Institute forum on poverty and growth

Last Wednesday, July 12, the Albert Del Rosario (ADR) Institute held a forum on "Poverty, inequality and  inclusive growth" in Makati. I was one of three reactors to the discussion and presentation by Dr. Epictetus "Lingling" Patalinghug of the UP College of Law. The other two  were Dr. Vic Paqueo of PIDS and Mr. Ferdie Diaz of ECOP.

F.Hayek, among other thinkers who have written about the subject, provided the philosophical basis about the necessity of inequality and why things can be done more efficiently if there is diversity and spontaneity, not forced equality, among people.

A well-attended event despite the heavy rains and flooding, and traffic, in the morning.

I borrowed this chart from Dr. Balisacan of NEDA, also my former teacher at UPSE.

An illustration that it's not inequality per se, but the degree of poverty in society, that is the more important problem that people and governments should address.

Perhaps the best proof that people today are a lot better off compared to our forefathers, 2 or more decades ago, is this chart -- death from  infectious diseases has  significantly declined, while morbidity and death from non-infectious, non-communicable diseases, has declined.

Among the participants that day.

(L-R): HOR CPBD Director Manuel Aquino; ADB Senior Health Specialist Dr. Eduardo Banzon; PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Celia M. Reyes; Former NEDA Director General  Romy Neri; PIDS and FEF Fellow Dr. Vic Paqueo; ADRi Trustee and UP Diliman Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business Prof. Emeritus Dr. Lingling Patalinghug; ADRi President Prof. Dindo Manhit; First Director General of NEDA Dr. Gerardo Sicat; RCBC Board Director Mr. Cesar Virata; me, and ECOP Co-Chair Ferdie Diaz.

Thanks again to Prof. Dindo Manhit for the invite to that nice forum. Thanks also to Mikee Maralit of the Institute for the photos.

My 13-slides presentation is posted here.

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See also: 

Globalization, Mobility and Inequality, February 18, 2014 

Business 360 18: Innovation, Inequality and Inclusive Growth, August 25, 2014 

EFN Asia 45: Growth, Inequality and the Philippines, November 15, 2014

Inequality 23: On Poverty, Agriculture and Motorcycles, March 10, 2015 

Inequality 24: Inheritance, Poverty and Envy, April 17, 2015
Inequality 25: On High CEOs Pay and Legislated Minimum Wages, April 30, 2015 

Inequality 26, Pew survey result on support for free market, July 27, 2015