Predistribution

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Pre-distribution (or Predistribution [1] [2] [3] ) is the idea that the state should try to prevent inequalities occurring in the first place rather than ameliorating them via tax and benefits once they have occurred, as occurs under redistribution. [4]

Contents

The term is a neologism [5] coined by Yale University Professor Jacob Hacker in his paper, "The Institutional Foundations of Middle Class Democracy" [6] published by the think tank Policy Network. [7] It has been used in the same sense by authors James Robertson and Joseph Huber in the book, Creating New Money (New Economics Foundation, London, UK). [8] It is also employed in various publications associated with the Campaign for Co-operative Socialism, including a set of five articles published in 2009/2010 by The CCPA Monitor (the publication of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives [9] ), and republished in 2010 as a collection, CCPA Readings on Co-operative Socialism.[ citation needed ]

Influence on British politics

In the United Kingdom, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband showed interest in the concept, telling a Policy Network seminar at the London Stock Exchange that "Predistribution is about saying we cannot allow ourselves to be stuck with permanently being a low-wage economy". [10] The concept has been seen as resulting from a recognition that were Labour to return to government they would not be able to reverse all Coalition cuts and implement traditional redistributive policies due to the poor state of the economy and instead need to focus on policies that make "work pay" for the poorest in society. [11] Tristram Hunt, a Labour MP, called for predistribution in his chapter in The Purple Book as a way to reform the economy whilst having fiscal restraint and fellow Purple Book contributor Rachel Reeves used the term in a June 2012 Progress article. [12] Lord Wood of Anfield, an adviser to Miliband, has argued that the "pre-distribution" agenda is necessary because "In the face of rising inequality, declining social mobility and stagnating real wages for middle-income earners, there are limits to what redistribution can achieve on its own". [13]

In an article in The Guardian , [14] Hacker described the three major themes of predistribution in a UK environment:

Criticism

There has been discussion of whether predistribution is practical. BBC Political Correspondent Ian Watson argues that a predistributive policy might, for instance, require a business (when bidding for a government contract) to pay the living wage rather than the national minimum wage, something that might be difficult during times of austerity although Watson's argument has been countered by the independent Commission on Living Standards. [15]

Some commentators have gone so far as to suggest that the concept of predistribution has simply been invented, and lacks any real substance. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

Distributism is an economic theory asserting that the world's productive assets should be widely owned rather than concentrated. Developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, distributism was based upon Catholic social teaching principles, especially Pope Leo XIII's teachings in his encyclical Rerum novarum (1891) and Pope Pius XI in Quadragesimo anno (1931). It has influenced Anglo Christian Democratic movements, and has been recognized as one of many influences on the social market economy.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-capitalism</span> Political ideology and movement opposed to capitalism

Anti-capitalism is a political ideology and movement encompassing a variety of attitudes and ideas that oppose capitalism. In this sense, anti-capitalists are those who wish to replace capitalism with another type of economic system, such as socialism or communism.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criticism of capitalism</span> Arguments against the economic system of capitalism

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Policy Network</span> International think tank

Policy Network was an international progressive think tank based in London. The President of Policy Network was former UK First Secretary of State and EU Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson; Lord Liddle was Chairperson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nordic model</span> Social and economic model in Nordic countries

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redistribution of income and wealth</span> Political philosophy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Labour</span> Pressure group in the UK Labour Party

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart Wood, Baron Wood of Anfield</span>

Stewart Martin Wood, Baron Wood of Anfield is a Labour life peer in the House of Lords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Nation Labour</span> Theme and branding of the British Labour Party adopted by the party in 2012

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References

  1. Hunt, T. Philpot, R. (ed.). Reviving our sense of mission: Designing a new political economy (PDF). p. 65. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.{{cite encyclopedia}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. "Home".
  3. "Responsible capitalism is Labour's agenda | Stewart Wood". TheGuardian.com . 9 January 2012.
  4. Hacker, J. (2011), The institutional foundations of middle-class democracy, Policy Network, 6 May 2011, at http://www.policy-network.net/articles/3998/The-institutional-foundations-of- middle-class-democracy
  5. "Redistribution to predistribution | Progress | News and debate from the progressive community". Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  6. "Home".
  7. "Home".
  8. Robertson, James; Huber, Joseph (31 May 2000). "Creating New Money". New Economics Foundation. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. "Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives | research • analysis • solutions".
  10. BBC News – Predistribution: The Labour leader's latest Big Idea
  11. The Press Association: No more high spending: Miliband
  12. "Labour's economic cause | Progress | News and debate from the progressive community". Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  13. "Responsible capitalism is Labour's agenda | Stewart Wood". TheGuardian.com . 9 January 2012.
  14. Jacob Hacker (12 June 2013). "How to reinvigorate the centre-left? Predistribution". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  15. BBC News – Ed Miliband unveils 'predistribution' plan to fix economy
  16. Predistribution is just a meaningless word in place of actual policy – Labour Uncut