Re: GDP vs. income gap

[Aiviet Nguyen <aiviet@cat.syr.edu>]

Hi ANh Ian,

   Actually, I have quite opposite opinion. The period of capital
concentration used to widen the gap you mentioned.
  However, I will not discuss more because I am afraid of being
accused as a capitalist way walker.
  The middle class will be created when the economy has reached an 
acceptable level.And that will be automatically created without
any intervention.

  Cheers
  Aiviet

On Tue, 13 May 1997, nghia bui wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> One thing I haven't seen mentioned in the current discussion
> on GDP is income distribution. In my opinion, the per capita 
> GDP number can be very misleading because, as an average, it
> masks the very real gap between the haves and have-nots. 
> 
> I do not know if any data exists which measure the current
> income gap. My own feeling, which has been echoed by many
> others who have visited VN at least a few times in the past
> several years, is that this gap has been widening due to VN's
> shift to a market economy. If this trend is confirmed, it 
> certainly does not bode well for the future of VN as more 
> social tensions will surely follow and we may find ourselves 
> back to square one all over again.
> 
> In order to raise the quality of life for commonfolks across
> all spectrum of society, it is imperative that government
> policies are devised and implemented to contain and narrow
> this gap. An equitable income distribution mechanism is the
> true mark of a successful and civilized society, no matter 
> what its total GDP or per capita GDP might be at any given
> point in time. 
> 
> In my mind, creating and sustaining a prosperous middle class
> is perhaps the greatest challenge facing leaders and policy 
> makers of VN in the new era of open market and free trade.
> I can only wish them the best of luck.
> 
> Ian
>