Visualisation made with flourish.studio
Wealth inequality is rising and has reached excessive levels. Wealth inequality is at the root of unfairness. The easiest way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already, or to inherit wealth from your parents. People with lots of money can earn more than many working people just by watching their assets increase in value. Wealth inequality across generations is becoming more acute. Even people on high incomes who come from poor backgrounds often can’t afford to buy a house. The link between effort and reward has been broken. We can’t say that those at the top and the bottom of society deserve their lot, as peoples' starting points in life have a huge impact on their life chances.
Explore the context
Explore the arguments
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
Levels of wellbeing are declining
Levels of wellbeing are declining
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
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 university
People 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
People from poorer backgrounds earn less money
People from poorer backgrounds earn less money
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
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
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities
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
Wealth is taxed at much lower rates than income
Wealth is taxed at much lower rates than income
Explore the other indicators
Wealth
Wealth
Poverty
Poverty
Living standards
Living standards
Secondary school
Secondary school
Higher education
Higher education
Graduate outcomes
Graduate outcomes
Executive pay
Executive pay
Equal pay
Equal pay
Low pay
Low pay
Income tax
Income tax
Housing quality
Housing quality
Health outcomes
Health outcomes
Carbon emissions
Carbon emissions
Voice
Voice
Fair treatment
Fair treatment