--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many people believe in eliminating gaps…" description: "\"Many people believe in eliminating gaps and eliminating poverty. They don't realize that in some sense those two things are antithetical. If you were t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/thomas-sowell-247_believe_many-people-believe-in-eliminating-gaps_2081544.jpg" --- # Many people believe in eliminating gaps and eliminating… ![“Many people believe in eliminating gaps and eliminating poverty. They don't realize that in some sense those two things are antithetical. If you were to double everyone's income, or if everyone's income were doubled naturally over the course of time, then you would reduce poverty significantly but…” quote by Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/thomas-sowell-247_believe_many-people-believe-in-eliminating-gaps_2081544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/thomas-sowell-247_believe_many-people-believe-in-eliminating-gaps_2081544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/thomas-sowell-247_believe_many-people-believe-in-eliminating-gaps_2081544.jpg) > “Many people believe in eliminating gaps and eliminating poverty. They don't realize that in some sense those two things are antithetical. If you were to double everyone's income, or if everyone's income were doubled naturally over the course of time, then you would reduce poverty significantly but you would have also increased the gap.” [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Doubling everyone's income reduces poverty but also widens income inequality, showing that wealth growth and equity can conflict. **In simple terms:** More money for all can still leave larger gaps. Key Takeaway Consider both growth and fairness. Themes economics inequality policy growth equity Mood thoughtful analytical Type economic policy When to use this quote - public policy design - tax reform - social program evaluation - economic forecasting Key Concepts income distribution trade-offs social welfare Questions to Reflect On - How can we grow economies while narrowing gaps? - What policies balance prosperity and equality? A Different Perspective Higher overall wealth may exacerbate disparity without targeted redistribution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Eliminating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-eliminating-4067921/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Double Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/double-income-652031/) [Eliminating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminating/) [Eliminating Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminating-poverty-1570558/) [Gaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaps/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Increased Gap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increased-gap-4067922/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Reduce Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reduce-poverty-233950/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-things/) ## Related quotes > [Even the best community organizations and faith-based initiatives and the extraordinary charity of Americans across the country can't carry the brunt of eliminating poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/even-the-best-community-organizations-and-faith-based-initiatives-and/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [“If you can get yourself to read 30 minutes a day, you're going to double your income every year.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-can-get-yourself-to-read-30-minutes-a-day-you-re-going-to/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Your income is a direct reward for the quality and quantity of the services you render to your world. 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