Video: “It’s Time To Get Radical On Inequality” by Joseph Stiglitz

11/12/2015 – Nobel laureate Stiglitz, author of The Price of Inequality and The Great Divide, studies the forces driving inequality and what is at stake if it continues. In his view, bad economic thinking deserves part of the blame — fanciful ideas like trickle-down and the notion that economists should try to increase the size of the economic pie and let the politicians worry about distribution. On the contrary, Stiglitz sees distribution as a problem economists must confront. He warns that an economic system that doesn’t raise standards of living for most Americans is a failure.

Eurochild | Child poverty: European Parliament adopts long overdue resolution

25/11/2015 – Eurochild welcomes the adoption of the European Parliament Resolution Reducing inequalities with a special focus on child poverty by rapporteur Inês Cristina Zuber. The resolution, adopted today by large majority is the formal endorsement of the 2013 European Commission Recommendation Investing in Children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage. This is the first EP resolution specifically on child poverty since 2008.

2015 QE for people campaign 2

New campaign launches, calling on ECB’s quantitative easing to “serve the people”

25/11/2015, Brussels – A coalition of eurozone campaigners, civil society organisations and economists is today calling on the European Central Bank (ECB) to radically change its approach to the current Quantitative Easing (QE) programme. In other words, the money created currently going to the financial sector which caused the crisis, should be used to help everyday people and contributes to a sustainable recovery.

ILO highlights impact of Social and Solidarity-based economy on decent jobs creation

On 19 October, the ILO participated in a Conference on “The Social and Solidarity-based economy, a driver for change in the South”, organized by the Centre Tricontinental (CETRI) of Louvain, Belgium. More than 10% of all jobs worldwide are provided in the social and solidarity-based economy (SEE), which puts people at the heart of its operations. The sector weathered the crisis successfully and it continues to grow. SEE-organizations generate decent work opportunities and stimulate and strengthen local development.

EUROCITIES statement on Roma inclusion in cities

04/11/2015 – Equality and non-discrimination are two of the core values of the European Union. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU prohibits any discrimination based on race, colour, ethnic or social origin and its chapters on freedoms and solidarity establish the right to education, preventive healthcare and medical treatment. The charter also guarantees respect for cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. Yet, despite the existence of a robust anti-discrimination and human rights framework coupled with an EU framework on Roma inclusion, Roma still face widespread discrimination across Europe. The Roma are Europe’s largest minority. They continue to experience racially motivated attacks and anti-Gypsyism.