Bridge Conference 2019

Inequity is divisive and socially corrosive. Societies that are less equitable have fewer opportunities for their residents and communities to thrive. As one example, Richard Wilkinson’s TED Talk summarizes that income inequality negatively affects life expectancy and many other indicators that are associated with the well-being of a society. The key findings show that relative — not absolute — income inequality is what matters. Said another way: inequity within a society is more impactful than inequity between societies. King County invests upstream where the needs are greatest. Upstream means we address root causes, the policies and systems that lead to poor outcomes early and before they develop into larger issues. By focusing upstream, the County can lessen the resources needed to reduce inequities downstream. The key question is: How do we define where the needs are greatest? We plan to measure the difference between the top and bottom 20% of the population across our community conditions and determinants of equity. This will identify where inequities are greatest and – more importantly – who is suffering. King County will then tailor its investment(s) with the goals of increasing equity by increasing benefits and decreasing burdens.