Reactive: World Bank report showing global extreme poverty expected to rise for first time in over 20 years

Responding to the World Bank Poverty and Shared Prosperity report, Max Lawson, Oxfam’s Head of Inequality Policy said:

“The World Bank’s report shows clearly that billions of people were more vulnerable to the economic impacts of COVID-19 because of decades of economic policies which have kept them living one paycheck away from poverty, while the richest in society accumulate ever more wealth. 

“The figures are a damning indictment of the failed economic policies that will push hundreds of millions more people into destitution during this pandemic. Urgent action must be taken to protect labor rights, boost social safety nets and deliver a fairer tax system to close the gap between the richest and the rest.”