Complaint
A listener complained the presenter Tim Harford had suggested inequality in the UK was not getting worse and should not be thought of as a problem. The ECU considered whether the programme met 大象传媒 standards for due impartiality.
Outcome
The programme explored how measures of inequality have changed over time, focusing on the UK since the Second World War. Mr Harford explained that income inequality has been coming down since the 1990s and noted 鈥I think that鈥檒l surprise a lot of people because the narrative is that inequality is increasing, it鈥檚 almost relentless鈥.
The ECU noted he balanced this by explaining there has been a rise in wealth inequality over the same period. He also drew attention to the fact income inequality is falling globally because the incomes of people in countries such as China and India are growing faster and doing so from a lower base.
This was the context in which, in the ECU鈥檚 view, it was necessary to judge Mr Harford鈥檚 comments at the end of the programme when he said 鈥next time you hear somebody complaining that inequality is getting worse you鈥檒l know to ask them which measure they are using and you鈥檒l be able to call them out鈥. The ECU understood his words to refer back to the fact inequality can be measured in a number of different ways and it鈥檚 not always the case that inequality is getting worse, even if that is the public perception.
Not Upheld