What are fair essentials and why are they important?
Wealth
Wealth
High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
Higher levels of inequality make a wide range of social problems worse for everyone
Higher levels of inequality make a wide range of social problems worse for everyone
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards 
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards
Levels of trust and social cohesion are low
Levels of trust and social cohesion are low
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality
Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality
Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities
Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality
The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already
The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities
The tax system could be designed to be more progressive
The tax system could be designed to be more progressive
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
Wealth is taxed at much lower rates than income
Wealth is taxed at much lower rates than income
Poverty
Poverty
Benefits are falling in real terms
Benefits are falling in real terms
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards Income inequality is high by historical and European standards
Millions are unable to afford decent housing 
Millions are unable to afford decent housing
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at universityPeople from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
People from poorer backgrounds do less well at school
People from poorer backgrounds do less well at school
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage
The nature of poverty is changing
The nature of poverty is changing
The rising costs of living hit poorer households harder
The rising costs of living hit poorer households harder
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequalityWealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
Living standards
Living standards
Benefits are falling in real termsBenefits are falling in real terms
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunitiesDisadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards Income inequality is high by historical and European standards
Millions are unable to afford decent housing Millions are unable to afford decent housing
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocksPoorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantageThe education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage
The nature of poverty is changingThe nature of poverty is changing
The rising costs of living hit poorer households harderThe rising costs of living hit poorer households harder
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure workToo many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequalityWealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
Statistics
Statistics
Substance
Substance
Stories
Stories
Surveys
Surveys
Solutions
Solutions
What are fair opportunities and why are they important?
Secondary school
Secondary school
Children with special needs are not well enough supported
Children with special needs are not well enough supported
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunitiesDisadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes
Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes
High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobilityHigh levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
Parenting support only makes a small difference
Parenting support only makes a small difference
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at universityPeople from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
People from poorer backgrounds do less well at schoolPeople from poorer backgrounds do less well at school
Public services are often worse in deprived areas
Public services are often worse in deprived areas
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantageThe education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage
Higher education
Higher education
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunitiesDisadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomesGenetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at universityPeople from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
People from poorer backgrounds do less well at schoolPeople from poorer backgrounds do less well at school
People from poorer backgrounds earn less money
People from poorer backgrounds earn less money
Public services are often worse in deprived areasPublic services are often worse in deprived areas
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantageThe education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage
Graduate outcomes
Graduate outcomes
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunitiesDisadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomesGenetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes
People from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at universityPeople from poorer backgrounds are less likely to get to and do well at university
People from poorer backgrounds do less well at schoolPeople from poorer backgrounds do less well at school
People from poorer backgrounds earn less moneyPeople from poorer backgrounds earn less money
Public services are often worse in deprived areasPublic services are often worse in deprived areas
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantageThe education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage
Statistics
Statistics
Substance
Substance
Stories
Stories
Surveys
Surveys
Solutions
Solutions
What are fair rewards and why are they important?
Executive pay
Executive pay
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
People from poorer backgrounds earn less moneyPeople from poorer backgrounds earn less money
There is little relationship between merit and reward
There is little relationship between merit and reward
Equal pay
Equal pay
People from poorer backgrounds earn less moneyPeople from poorer backgrounds earn less money
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
There is little relationship between merit and rewardThere is little relationship between merit and reward
Low pay
Low pay
High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobilityHigh levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
People from poorer backgrounds earn less moneyPeople from poorer backgrounds earn less money
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental healthPoor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
There is little relationship between merit and rewardThere is little relationship between merit and reward
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure workToo many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
Statistics
Statistics
Substance
Substance
Stories
Stories
Surveys
Surveys
Solutions
Solutions
What is fair exchange and why is it important?
Income tax
Income tax
The tax system could be designed to be more progressiveThe tax system could be designed to be more progressive
Wealth is taxed at much lower rates than incomeWealth is taxed at much lower rates than income
Housing quality
Housing quality
Millions are unable to afford decent housing Millions are unable to afford decent housing
Health outcomes
Health outcomes
Higher levels of inequality make a wide range of social problems worse for everyoneHigher levels of inequality make a wide range of social problems worse for everyone
Levels of wellbeing are declining
Levels of wellbeing are declining
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental healthPoor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalitiesSocio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities
Statistics
Statistics
Substance
Substance
Stories
Stories
Surveys
Surveys
Solutions
Solutions
What is fair treatment and why is it important?
Carbon emissions
Carbon emissions
Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequalitySocio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality
Voice
Voice
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunitiesDisadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Levels of trust and social cohesion are lowLevels of trust and social cohesion are low
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justiceSocio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequalitySocio-economic inequality leads to political inequality
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalitiesThe structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities
Wealth is taxed at much lower rates than incomeWealth is taxed at much lower rates than income
Fair treatment
Fair treatment
High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobilityHigh levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
Higher levels of inequality make a wide range of social problems worse for everyoneHigher levels of inequality make a wide range of social problems worse for everyone
Levels of trust and social cohesion are lowLevels of trust and social cohesion are low
Levels of wellbeing are decliningLevels of wellbeing are declining
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental healthPoor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocksPoorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
Public services are often worse in deprived areasPublic services are often worse in deprived areas
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justiceSocio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequalitySocio-economic inequality leads to political inequality
The rising costs of living hit poorer households harderThe rising costs of living hit poorer households harder
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalitiesThe structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities
There are still high levels of tax evasion and avoidance
There are still high levels of tax evasion and avoidance
There is little relationship between merit and rewardThere is little relationship between merit and reward
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure workToo many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
Statistics
Statistics
Substance
Substance
Stories
Stories
Surveys
Surveys
Solutions
Solutions
SOLUTIONS
Making jobs better
Making jobs better
Making the essentials affordable
Making the essentials affordable
Taxing wealth better
Taxing wealth better
APPENDICES
Benefits of fairness
Benefits of fairness
Framing advice
Framing advice
The missing data
The missing data
Methodology
Methodology
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
RELATED RESOURCES
Fair Comment
Fair Comment
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Supporting partners
Supporting partners
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Defining fairness
Defining fairness
Read our definition of fairness (The Fair Necessities)
Viewing fairness
Viewing fairness
Read the findings of our attitudinal research
Discussing fairness
Discussing fairness
Watch event recordings or read summaries
ANALYSIS OF THE THEMATIC ISSUES
Democracy
Democracy
Education
Education
Environment
Environment
Health
Health
Housing
Housing
Justice
Justice
Social security
Social security
Taxation
Taxation
Wealth
Wealth
Work
Work
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