The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the tenth of which is "Reduced inequalities", namely: Reduce inequality within and among countries. 

Under this major goal, there are ten targets, the fourth of which is "Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality".

● Current Situation

About the World

Bridging Inequality Divide

Inequalities are not only driven and measured by income, but are determined by other factors - gender, age, origin, ethnicity, disability, class, and religion. These factors determine inequalities of opportunity which continue to persist, within and between countries. In some parts of the world, these divides are becoming more pronounced. Meanwhile, gaps in newer areas, such as access to online and mobile technologies, are emerging. The result is a complex mix of internal and external challenges that will continue to grow over the next twenty-five years.

Text and photo source: un.org

About China

Establish a More Equitable Social Security System

Photo source: baidu.com

China's social security industry has gradually entered a new stage of development, and a series of major reform measures have been introduced, which has greatly enhanced its integrity and systematicness. Through the full implementation of the national insurance plan, the coverage of social security has been continuously expanded, the coverage of social insurance has changed from "wide coverage" to "full coverage", and a multi-level social security system has been basically established to coordinate urban and rural areas and cover all people. The level of social security benefits has been gradually improved, which has laid a solid foundation for a more equitable and sustainable social security system.

Text source: theory.gmw.cn

●  Cases

About the World

Promotion of Inclusive Growth

COVID-19 is widening inequality worldwide. To give everyone a fair shot at prosperity, governments need to improve access to basic public services and strengthen redistributive policies . These reforms must be complemented by greater transparency and accountability.

Photo source: baidu.com

The IMF continues to offer policy advice on strengthening social protection systems and fiscal positions through revenue mobilization—including 

options for broadening the tax base and more progressive taxation—and on tackling tax avoidance and illicit financial flows. Analytical work on gender equity and on income and wealth inequality is also underway, as is work on inclusive financial services.

Text source: IMF Annual Report 2021

About China 

Narrow Income Gap Between Urban And Rural Areas

Network infrastructure investments in rural areas include roads, the telephone system, and internet on top of developing basic agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation and drainage. It connected farmers to markets and enabled manufacturing and service industries to develop in rural areas. High internet and mobile network penetration in rural areas accelerated the application of ICT. E-commerce platforms such as Taobao have been essential in connecting farmers to end-consumers and oriented agriculture to be more demand-driven.

Photo source: sohu.com

China has created non-agricultural income opportunities, reduced vulnerability and narrowed the income gap between urban and rural areas through renting farmland to revitalize rural development. Today, non-agricultural income accounts for more than 70% of rural household income, compared with 25.6% in 1990.

Text source: adb.org

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.