--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need to focus much more on the bottom…" description: "\"We need to focus much more on the bottom 40 per cent. They are losing ground, and the fact that they are losing ground blocks social mobility and bring..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/jose-angel-gurria-5076_economic-growth_we-need-to-focus-much-more-on-the-bottom_726205.png" --- # We need to focus much more on the bottom 40 per cent. They… ![“We need to focus much more on the bottom 40 per cent. They are losing ground, and the fact that they are losing ground blocks social mobility and brings down economic growth.” quote by Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/jose-angel-gurria-5076_economic-growth_we-need-to-focus-much-more-on-the-bottom_726205.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/jose-angel-gurria-5076_economic-growth_we-need-to-focus-much-more-on-the-bottom_726205.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/jose-angel-gurria-5076_economic-growth_we-need-to-focus-much-more-on-the-bottom_726205.png) > “We need to focus much more on the bottom 40 per cent. They are losing ground, and the fact that they are losing ground blocks social mobility and brings down economic growth.” [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges focus on the poorest 40 % because their decline harms social mobility and overall growth. **In simple terms:** Helping the poorest boosts economy. Key Takeaway Prioritize policies that lift the bottom 40 %. Themes economics inequality growth Mood concerned urgent Type policy analytical When to use this quote - government budgeting - social programs - education reform Key Concepts social mobility policy distribution Questions to Reflect On - What policies best lift low‑income groups? - How can growth be inclusive? A Different Perspective Addressing inequality may face political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brings Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brings-economic-5696428/) [Economic growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-growth/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Losing Ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-ground-504297/) [Need Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-focus/) [Social mobility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-mobility/) ## Related quotes > [“A deepening class divide makes social mobility all but impossible. The result is a de facto caste system. This is not only morally wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-bruder/a-deepening-class-divide-makes-social-mobility-all-but-impossible-the/) [Jessica Bruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-bruder/) > [Federal policies must understand the linkages between economic growth, social mobility, and a strong middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/federal-policies-must-understand-the-linkages-between-economic-growth/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [High levels of inequality generate high costs for society, dampening social mobility, undermining the labour market prospects of vulnerable social groups, and creating social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/high-levels-of-inequality-generate-high-costs-for-society-dampening/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [“She was moving slowly, appearing to come no closer. Perhaps she was losing ground against the earth's rotation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lileks/she-was-moving-slowly-appearing-to-come-no-closer-perhaps-she-was/) [James Lileks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lileks/) > [We're losing ground. This planet is losing ground. So things need to happen and they need to happen quick. Our message should be-loud and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-wilson/we-re-losing-ground-this-planet-is-losing-ground-so-things-need-to/) [Diane Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-wilson/) > [In the age in which we live, the impossible is every day losing ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sophie-swetchine/in-the-age-in-which-we-live-the-impossible-is-every-day-losing-ground/) [Anne Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sophie-swetchine/) > [If you get a wrinkle, I don't feel that's indicative of your losing ground. That's ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/if-you-get-a-wrinkle-i-don-t-feel-that-s-indicative-of-your-losing/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [He who throws dirt is losing ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-throws-dirt-is-losing-ground/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you THROW DIRT at people, you're not doing a thing but LOSING GROUND.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/when-you-throw-dirt-at-people-you-re-not-doing-a-thing-but-losing/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“The same was true of Charles Murray’s seminal Losing Ground, another book about black folks that could have been written about hillbillies—which addressed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/the-same-was-true-of-charles-murray-s-seminal-losing-ground-another/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [In a region with a growing population, if you're doing nothing, you're losing ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/in-a-region-with-a-growing-population-if-you-re-doing-nothing-you-re/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [By the end of writing 'Losing Ground,' I realized I was a libertarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/by-the-end-of-writing-losing-ground-i-realized-i-was-a-libertarian/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > [“amount to a fart in a cyclone. His parents and their parson had tried to sell him the same message, binding him to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-pendleton/amount-to-a-fart-in-a-cyclone-his-parents-and-their-parson-had-tried/) [Don Pendleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-pendleton/) > [“Olin Foundation made a key $25,000 investment of its own in an unknown writer named Charles Murray, funding a grant at the Manhattan Institute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/olin-foundation-made-a-key-25-000-investment-of-its-own-in-an-unknown/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [When I'm lost in the rain, In your eyes I know I'll find the light to light my way And when I'm scared, losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/when-i-m-lost-in-the-rain-in-your-eyes-i-know-i-ll-find-the-light-to/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) ## More by Jose Angel Gurria > [Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/regulations-for-international-accounting-and-funding-will-have-to-be/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [You can accuse Europeans of being many things - except fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/you-can-accuse-europeans-of-being-many-things-except-fast/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [Governments need to be seriously sceptical about whether new coal provides a good deal for their citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/governments-need-to-be-seriously-sceptical-about-whether-new-coal/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [The whole banking sector in Mexico was literally bankrupt. For whatever reason, instead of intervening in the sector or supporting the banks, the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/the-whole-banking-sector-in-mexico-was-literally-bankrupt-for/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [I feel confident that leaders will rise to this challenge with a stronger commitment to tackle climate change and seize the economic opportunities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/i-feel-confident-that-leaders-will-rise-to-this-challenge-with-a/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [Ending our reliance on fossil fuels was never going to be easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/ending-our-reliance-on-fossil-fuels-was-never-going-to-be-easy/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [If you are trying to favor the unions by having more rigid labor market and keeping wages very high, you could be blocking people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/if-you-are-trying-to-favor-the-unions-by-having-more-rigid-labor/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [It is not good to cut exports or imports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/it-is-not-good-to-cut-exports-or-imports/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [The euro is going to continue to be the largest single trading block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/the-euro-is-going-to-continue-to-be-the-largest-single-trading-block/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [Integrity delivers better lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/integrity-delivers-better-lives/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [Some challenges remain, but the bottom line is that low-carbon options can and should play a much greater role in energy supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/some-challenges-remain-but-the-bottom-line-is-that-low-carbon-options/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [The benefits of growth have not trickled down. Income inequalities have become one of the biggest global challenges, attracting growing attention not only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/the-benefits-of-growth-have-not-trickled-down-income-inequalities/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [Principles of fair and equitable treatment included in many treaties are uncontroversial as general principles of good public governance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/principles-of-fair-and-equitable-treatment-included-in-many-treaties/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [Why did we lose Brexit? Why, because 60 per cent of youth didn't believe they needed to go and vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/why-did-we-lose-brexit-why-because-60-per-cent-of-youth-didn-t/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [A more robust approach to global warming is needed if we are to avoid catastrophe. Unlike the recent financial crisis, there is no bailout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/a-more-robust-approach-to-global-warming-is-needed-if-we-are-to-avoid/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) [Explore all 103 Jose Angel Gurria quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) ## More Economic growth quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. 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Yet, the nation experienced unprecedented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-marselle/since-the-1960s-the-national-average-of-u-s-students-on-international/) [Terry Marselle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-marselle/) > [Economic growth and 'future superpower' status is all very good but that doesn't guarantee dignity for every individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-kejriwal/economic-growth-and-future-superpower-status-is-all-very-good-but/) [Arvind Kejriwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-kejriwal/) > [Education affects every major challenge we face in society. It creates economic growth, paves the way for peace and stability and helps erase the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/education-affects-every-major-challenge-we-face-in-society-it-creates/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Increased spending, growing government debt and overreaching regulations are stifling job creation and economic growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/increased-spending-growing-government-debt-and-overreaching/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Following one of the most violent conflicts in human history, the United States and Japan built a deep and abiding friendship - an alliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/following-one-of-the-most-violent-conflicts-in-human-history-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Economic growth is our North Star. 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