WORLD - Economic Divide, Inequality

"How to combat the tightening grip of inequality around the globe" PBS NewsHour 6/12/2014

Excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  Next, a conversation about the scope of growing inequality, not only in the U.S., but in other countries around the world.

It’s the focus of new research by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD.

Among its findings: Income inequality has been rising over the past three decades, in the U.S. most of all, but also in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and France.  The OECD also said the share of income going to the richest citizens grew in many countries, with the wealthiest 1 percent of the population in the U.S. more than doubling their share since 1980 to nearly 20 percent of all income.

Secretary-General Angel Gurria is the head of the OECD.  He was in Washington today for a speech on the subject.

And he joins me now.

Welcome to the NewsHour.

ANGEL GURRIA, Secretary-General, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development:  Thank you.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  So, the first thing I have to ask you is, this OECD, an organization founded in Europe, principally around European countries, interested in inequality in the U.S. Why?

ANGEL GURRIA:  Well, first of all, the organization was founded by the United States because it’s a successor to the Marshall Plan.  The United States are heavily invested in the organization and heavily invested in Europe, of course.

And, second, it happens to be based in Paris, but it has 34 members, 20 of which are European.  The rest are non-Europeans.  They’re from all over the world, and of course the United States is a very important member.