Building Quote by Ha-Joon Chang
“Equality of opportunity is not enough. Unless we create an environment where everyone is guaranteed some minimum capabilities through some guarantee of minimum income, education, and healthcare, we cannot say that we have fair competition. When some people have to run a 100 metre race with sandbags on their legs, the fact that no one is allowed to have a head start does not make the race fair. Equality of opportunity is absolutely necessary but not sufficient in building a genuinely fair and efficient society.”
About This Quote
Equality of opportunity alone is insufficient; fair competition requires equal capabilities through social guarantees.
In simple terms: Equal chance isn’t enough without equal support.
Ensure basic support for true fairness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education reform
- universal basic income
- healthcare access
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the trade‑offs of extensive welfare?
How to balance incentives with guarantees?