Comments on: Debunking the right’s attacks on The Spirit Level

By: How does The Spirit Level withstand a critic?

How does The Spirit Level withstand a critic? — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:56:53 +0000

[...] Wilkinson and Pickett are arguing is buttressed by numerous other studies beyond their own (see a partial round-up here) and so picking apart some of their individual data is a bit like picking apart the methodology of [...]

By: Richard Nalty

Richard Nalty — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:03:56 +0000

Without reading either The Spirit Level, or The Spirit Level Delusion, I do note something at the outset which I think is a substantial problem for the left. It is something routinely observed at a local level. No one seems to care a great deal how much David Beckham “earns”, or how much Karen Child won on the lottery. Neither do they care if their numbers are growing or shrinking. But they do seem to care an awful lot if their mates, work colleagues, schoolfriends, Facebook “friends” or anyone close to them is doing better than them. Then it seems to matter. And something else is clearly evident to me at this early stage of investigations. If their relative lack of success is down to (at least in part) their laziness, they do not seek to remedy it. They continue to feel resentful (cue “depression” – translation – unhappiness) rather than do something constructive about it. There does therefore seem to be something underhand in play from the outset – how dare you try hard, pass exams, put the effort in and earn money, you inegalitarian! Let me see what more I can make from this after reading the two books, side by side. I do not see the initial concerns being eliminated all that easily.

By: In Case You Missed It » Blog Archive » Lessons in Killing the Golden Goose

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:26:20 +0000

[...] rightwingnuts have been so vehement in their condemnation and more fantastical than usual in their attempts to discredit Wilkinson and Pickett’s The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger. What [...]

By: Britain: In Thrall to Inequality | Politics Worldwide Journal

Britain: In Thrall to Inequality | Politics Worldwide Journal — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:07:51 +0000

[...] a more prosperous and more contented society, as the authors of The Spirit Level, a book that has terrified the free market right in all parties, have [...]

By: Equality of opportunity « The Standard

Equality of opportunity « The Standard — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:27:41 +0000

[...] repeated the main right wing attempt to discredit The Spirit Level, an attempt that is once again easily refuted (see also [...]

By: Are Clegg and Osborne at odds on income inequality? | Left Foot Forward

Are Clegg and Osborne at odds on income inequality? | Left Foot Forward — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:18:26 +0000

[...] been challenging the findings of the Spirit Level. Malcolm Clark has debunked these attacks on this website. Much to Mr Montgomerie’s chagrin, 11 Tory MPs have signed a pledge to narrow the gap between [...]

By: Doubt is their Product « Technical Slip

Doubt is their Product « Technical Slip — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:38:12 +0000

[...] and beyond the criticisms, Malcolm Clark at Left Foot Forward does a great job of pulling together some parallel evidence in support of the more general claim [...]

By: First XI: The Tory MPs committed to narrowing the gap between rich and poor | Left Foot Forward

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:45:01 +0000

[...] Level: why equality is better for everyone’ – at least some on the right seem to have been listening to the independent [...]

By: SvR Design Company

SvR Design Company — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:08:35 +0000

RT @urbandata Debunking right's attack on Spirit Level http://bit.ly/bR4CYt #healthequity #SDOH #disparities

By: Design New Haven

Design New Haven — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:01:55 +0000

Debunking right's attack on Spirit Level http://bit.ly/bR4CYt #healthequity #SDOH #disparities #publichealth via @health_data @leftfootfwd