Galbraith Calls for Proactive Methods to Reduce Poverty

Warburg Professor of Economics Emeritus John Kenneth Galbraith told a crowd of students last night that America should address poverty as well as productivity in these flush economic times.

"There's much more to economic life than the improvement of the output of the economy," the former ambassador to India told about 70 students in the Quincy House Junior Common Room.

His speech was sponsored by the Harvard College Democrats.

"We have a good working economy, there is no doubt about that," Galbraith said. "We shouldn't put all of our praise behind the output of the economy. There's much more to it than that."

Galbraith said the most important "legacy" of the 20th century is "the very grave unfinished business of our time--poverty. "

"Nothing denies human liberty so much as the total absence of money," he said, calling this "liberty" something civil libertarians ignore.

He advocated active government involvement to reduce poverty.

"I have long urged the acceptance of a minimum basic income," he said. "Get away from the notion that there is something wicked about not working."

The budget surplus should go partly to education, Galbraith said, but not in order to increase the long-term productivity of the economy.

Rather, he said, education should serve to increase our "enjoyment of life."

Galbraith was a New Deal administrator and adviser to presidents John F. Kennedy '40 and Lyndon B. Johnson. He has authored over forty books, most famously The Affluent Society.

When asked about the current race for the Democratic nomination, Galbraith said, "I have a long relationship with the Gore family that transcends any other matter. That I freely confess."

But for second place, he said, he preferred former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley to Texas Governor George W. Bush. At another point, Galbraith talked about the "appalling" campaign finance situation in light of the current presidential race.

"Raising money is George [W. Bush]'s greatest qualification for the presidency--maybe his only one," Galbraith said.

Joseph N. Sanberg '01, president of the Harvard College Democrats, said his group invited Galbraith because he "has an important perspective on the most important issue of the day--economic inequality."

Galbraith told stories from his long affiliation with the Democratic Party, which began in 1934. When he was hired by the Agricultural Adjustment Association then, he had to swear loyalty to the Democratic party.

"They never asked me if I was a voter," he said. Although he swore an oath to the Democrats, he was still a Canadian citizen.

Students said they were impressed by Galbraith's breadth of perspective as well as his sense of humor.

"I think his insights from his experience in India and the New Deal show a much broader vision for what we can aspire to than what we aspire to at the moment," said visiting student Rosalind J. Dixon.