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Even if we could give everyone the same starting point, some people’s talents and labours are more valued and better rewarded than others. Pay often owes more to the random nature of the labour market than talent, effort or contribution. We allow the market to bestow excessive and unearned rewards on people whose contribution to our shared prosperity is sometimes negative. Many CEOs are paid millions, even if they fail to achieve their objectives. Many bankers earn more than CEOs by speculating on financial markets. Finance sector pay has increased twice as much as pay in other sectors in the past two years. Income inequality reduces social mobility.
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High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
High levels of inequality lead to low levels of social mobility
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards 
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
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
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
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
There is little relationship between merit and reward
There is little relationship between merit and reward
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 inequality
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
