Route to fairness

Ellis Thorpe (Letters, 15 June) suggests that universal pay rises for employees rather than huge bonuses for a few “blue chip” bosses might revive the UK economy and make for a fairer society.

In fact, such “quick fix” measures would neither sustain revival of the economy in the medium and long term, nor make for an enduringly fairer society.

Our experience of raging inflation in 1974-80 should have taught us that.

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In fact, when it comes to alleviating mass poverty, one of the most effective social tools is to invest in education.

The great North American economist, JK Galbraith, suggested in that same inflationary Wilson/Callaghan/Jimmy Carter era that the two greatest catalysts towards reducing poverty were providing people with the opportunity to better themselves by seeking work abroad and by provision of good quality universal education.

Immigration and emigration are not paths that commend themselves, given historical experience, to most Scots.

However, the second of Galbraith’s options – promoting a more knowledgable, educated population – is an ongoing requirement for our society.

All this makes it doubly sad that reports this year indicate that some 12 per cent of newly qualified teachers are currently unemployed.

Such statistics perish the hope of a fairer and more generally prosperous future for most.

ANGUS LOGAN

Ardwell Policy Forum

York Road

North Berwick