Inequality & the agrarian crisis

Its a familiar tone that economic reform debate takes, the debate about the growing inequality, the widening gap between the rich and the poor. The media loves it. How often do we see the images flash across the screen, of a poor hutment right next to a high rise apartment, of a handicapped beggar begging from a seth in a mercedes benz.Inequality of wealth is shown as the single most bane of reforms. But is inequality of wealth a fair enough measure? I think not.

For one wealth is relative, what is enough for me maybe too tiny for you. And also i never understood the dollar a day measure. Is a guy who earns 1 dollar 10 cents much better?. Compared to Bill gates i am terrribly poor. But its unfair to point finger at Bill gates and say oh how very cruel of you to mint billions when poor little Rajeev slogs for a few thousand rupees. Its unfair because the measure doesnt take into account how immensely lazy i am and how ridiculously unambitious i can get.

Instead of focussing on inequality of wealth, what we need to monitor , worry and focus on is inequality of oppurtunities. But how do you measure inequality of oppurtunity? Hmm tough nut to crack, i wish i knew but i will try and find out.

One more issue i have been thinking about and was the purpose of this post is the farmer suicides and the much large agrarian crisis. I am terribly hungry now so will continue this in the next post.