The Good Society by Kate Pickett review – the Spirit Level author takes stock

Kate Pickett's 'The Good Society' is a new book from the author of the influential 'Spirit Level', which argued that inequality was the root cause of many social problems. In her latest work, Pickett revisits this idea and outlines several policy solutions to improve societal well-being.

Pickett contends that more equal societies tend to have better outcomes across various domains, including health, education, crime rates, and even life expectancy. She attributes these improvements to the progressivity of taxation systems, which can help mitigate income inequality. However, her recent experience suggests otherwise - with a decline in economic growth but no corresponding decrease in social problems.

In 'The Good Society', Pickett offers alternative solutions to current social issues, drawing on successful policies from northern European countries. While this compendium may resonate with some readers who are sympathetic to progressive ideas, it falls short for those looking for more nuanced analysis or critical thinking. The book's broad strokes and lack of expert input may lead to oversimplification, especially among specialists in specific policy areas.

Pickett's proposal for Universal Basic Income (UBI) is an interesting development, although her claims about its transformative potential are overstated. Small-scale studies have largely failed to demonstrate the widespread benefits she suggests. Nonetheless, this thought-provoking and well-researched approach represents a serious attempt to address inequality and social injustice.

Ultimately, Pickett's book concludes with a call for greater use of evidence in policymaking and more citizens' juries. However, this initiative may come across as out of touch with the current political landscape, where partisan divisions and ideological rigidity often hinder meaningful reform efforts.

In conclusion, 'The Good Society' will likely appeal to readers already sympathetic to Pickett's views on social inequality and progressive policy solutions. Nonetheless, the book's lack of depth and nuance may leave experts and critical thinkers feeling underwhelmed by its proposals and methods.
 
OMG u gotta read this new book "The Good Society" by Kate Pickett 🤯 it's like she's saying that equal societies are way better off in every aspect lol income inequality is bad news for us all 🤝 so she's proposing progressive taxation systems to help fix it. but apparently, her ideas aren't working out so well in practice 🤦‍♀️ the book is def got its fans tho, esp those who are already on board with Pickett's views 💖 and I gotta admit, UBI idea is pretty cool 👀 even if she might be exaggerating a bit about its benefits 🤑
 
🤔 I'm kinda disappointed with Kate Pickett's new book 'The Good Society' 📚... it feels like she's glossing over some of the complexities of implementing her policy solutions 🤷‍♀️. She's all about progressivity in taxation systems and Universal Basic Income, but what about the fine print? 💸 I'd love to see more research on how those policies would work in real-world scenarios rather than just relying on northern European country examples 🌍... still, kudos for tackling tough issues and calling out partisan divisions 👏. Maybe her next book will be the one that really takes us there 😉.
 
🤔 I gotta say, I'm a bit mixed about this new book from Kate Pickett... On one hand, she's got some solid points about how more equal societies tend to do better in terms of health, education, crime rates - the whole nine yards 📈💪. And I love that she's proposing tax reforms and Universal Basic Income as ways to tackle income inequality 💸👥.

But at the same time, I'm a bit skeptical about her claims that these solutions are gonna magically fix all our problems overnight ⏱️. I mean, we've seen some pretty robust studies on UBI and they haven't exactly turned up glowing results 📊😐. And don't even get me started on how much she relies on northern European countries as examples - it's like she's not considering the fact that their economies are way different from ours 🤷‍♀️.

Still, I do think Pickett's got some good ideas and she's definitely doing her part to raise awareness about social inequality 🌟. Maybe not every single reader is gonna be convinced by her proposals, but hey - at least she's trying 💪.
 
idk what's wrong with kate pickett's idea of ubi... seems like it'd help ppl out but i've been reading this thread about how hard it is to implement & the costs can be pretty high 🤔, like what if it just pushes more people into the workforce without any support? or makes them work long hours for less pay? 🤑 also, i'm all for evidence-based policymaking, but shouldn't we be trying some new stuff too? like, have you guys heard of that one food delivery app where they gotta deliver in 30min or u get free next month... sounds kinda like how kate's idea of ubi could work if it's implemented right 🚀
 
I gotta think, you know? 🤔 This Kate Pickett book sounds like it's trying to fix all our problems with just one solution... Universal Basic Income, right? But is it that easy? I mean, I'm not saying it can't work, but have we seen these small-scale studies she mentioned? And what about the big picture? It feels like she's glossing over some major issues. Like, what about those partisan divisions and ideological rigidity? Can't she just... I don't know, work with politicians or something? 🤷‍♂️ The thing is, I'm all for equality and stuff, but I also think we gotta be real about the complexities of human nature. Maybe Pickett's book is just too idealistic, you feel me? 💡
 
just read this new book "The Good Society" by Kate Pickett 🤔... gotta say, her idea about progessivity in taxation systems making more equal societies better off is kinda interesting 💡... but I'm not sure if it's gonna work here in the states 🇺🇸... we got a pretty different political landscape than northern europe where she gets most of her examples from 👀... and honestly, I think UBI is still a bit of a pipe dream for now ⛔️... don't get me wrong, the idea's cool, but we need more solid research to back it up 📊... and can we please just have more people talking about this stuff in a way that's accessible to everyone, not just policy nerds like me 🤓
 
🤔 I think Kate Pickett is trying to tackle some really tough issues with her new book, but maybe not in the most effective way? 📚 I mean, she's got some solid points about progressive taxation systems and how they can help reduce income inequality... 👍 But, at the same time, I'm a bit skeptical about her UBI idea 🤑 - it seems like a nice thought, but what are the real-world implications? 🤷‍♀️

I think what bothers me is that she's not really engaging with all the complexities of policy-making and how they intersect with different industries and communities. 🌎 Like, what about all the people who are already struggling financially and need a safety net? 🤝 And what about the potential unintended consequences of UBI on other social programs or job markets? 💸

Anyway, I do think she's trying to bring attention to some really important issues and spark conversations... 👍 So, even if her book isn't perfect, it's still worth reading for anyone who cares about building a more equitable society. 🌈💖
 
I just read Kate Pickett's new book "The Good Society" 🤔 and I'm left feeling a bit underwhelmed 😐. As a parent, it's hard to ignore the stats on how unequal societies can impact kids' lives - lower life expectancy, worse health outcomes, etc. But what really gets me is that Pickett's ideas seem to be based on those broad societal trends rather than actual data for families with kids 👪. I mean, if we're talking about progressive taxation systems and all that jazz... I get it. But when it comes to concrete solutions for parents trying to navigate the system - like how to provide for our families without sacrificing stability 💸 - I need something more tangible 📈.
 
🤔 Kate Pickett's new book is making me wonder if we're really seeing a decline in economic growth with more social problems? Like, are they connected or what? 🤷‍♀️ I'm all for progressive ideas like UBI, but let's not say it's gonna fix everything just yet... 💸
 
idk why ppl still argue about income equality 🤷‍♀️ i mean come on, more equal societies seem to have better outcomes all around - health, ed, crime rates... it just makes sense 💡 kate pickett's new book 'the good society' is like, a step in the right direction, but idk if it's gonna convince everyone 🤔 uib might not be the magic bullet she makes it out to be, but hey at least she's trying 🙏
 
I'm not sure I fully get what Kate Pickett is saying about taxation systems. She thinks they can help reduce income inequality, but at the same time she's seen a decline in economic growth with no change in social problems... 🤔 That sounds kinda confusing to me. Isn't it weird that some countries with high taxes (like Norway and Sweden) have lower poverty rates and better outcomes overall? I mean, I get why we should try to reduce inequality, but I don't know if just changing the tax system is enough... 😕
 
idk why ppl still dont get it 🤔...rich people paying more taxes is like, basic math, right? but apparently kate pickett's new book is just gonna be another example of "experts" talking to each other in circles 📚💼...meanwhile ordinary ppl are just trying to survive on a shrinking economy 🤯...kicking the can down the road with universal basic income might not be as magic solution as she makes it sound 😐...but hey, at least its trying, right? 🤷‍♀️
 
🤔 gotta say, kate pickett's new book got me thinkin... all this talk about makin' societies more equal sounds pretty appealing, especially when you see the benefits in northern europe 🇩🇪. but, like, i'm also a bit skeptical 'bout her claims on ubi and stuff. i mean, small-scale studies just ain't enough to prove it's a magic solution 💸. that bein' said, i do think it's cool she's tryin' to bring attention to these issues and offer some solutions 🌟. we need more people talkin' about how to make our societies better for everyone 🤝. just wish her book went a bit deeper into the nitty-gritty of policy implementation 📊. anyway, if you're already on board with progressive ideas, this might be right up your alley 👍!
 
I don't know about this Kate Pickett girl 🤔... I mean, she sounds like a smart cookie and all, but her ideas on UBI? Not exactly new to the table 📦. I've seen similar proposals from other experts with way more data to back it up 💡. And what's with her experience showing economic growth didn't lead to better social outcomes? That just sounds like more of a chicken-and-egg problem to me 🥚... where do we even start with policy solutions that sound great but don't quite add up? 🤷‍♀️ I need some concrete examples and credible sources before I'm convinced 📊.
 
I'm low-key obsessed with Kate Pickett's new book "The Good Society" 🤯! She's still on point about income inequality being a major social problem, but I gotta say, her recent economic growth decline is kinda wild 🤔. Still, UBI sounds like a dope idea 💸, even if it needs more research. I'm hyped she's pushing for citizens' juries and evidence-based policymaking - that's some real change 💪! But, let's be real, the book's not perfect and might give experts a little too much to think about 🤯... still, can't wait to dive in and discuss with my online fam 📚💬
 
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