Index indicators
Additional statistics
Arguments
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
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
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
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 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
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
Cited policy reports or articles
‘We are drowning in insecurity’: young people and life after the pandemic
‘We are drowning in insecurity’: young people and life after the pandemic
April 29, 2021
Arrears fears: The distribution of UK household wealth and the impact on families
Arrears fears: The distribution of UK household wealth and the impact on families
July 20, 2022
Cost of living crisis: the UK needs to raise taxes not cut them – here's why
Cost of living crisis: the UK needs to raise taxes not cut them – here's why
August 22, 2022
David Cameron, David Beckham, and the UK's social mobility problem
David Cameron, David Beckham, and the UK's social mobility problem
January 4, 2019
Falling further behind: hardship among benefit capped families as prices rise
Falling further behind: hardship among benefit capped families as prices rise
June 21, 2022
Higher education, career opportunities, and intergenerational inequality
Higher education, career opportunities, and intergenerational inequality
October 13, 2016
Inequality can double the energy required to secure universal decent living
Inequality can double the energy required to secure universal decent living
August 26, 2022
Inheritances and inequality over the life cycle: what will they mean for younger generations?
Inheritances and inequality over the life cycle: what will they mean for younger generations?
April 26, 2021
Measuring Unfair Inequality: Reconciling Equality of Opportunity and Freedom from Poverty
Measuring Unfair Inequality: Reconciling Equality of Opportunity and Freedom from Poverty
September 16, 2021
New research shows local economies losing £4.5 million a year to the poverty premium
New research shows local economies losing £4.5 million a year to the poverty premium
June 22, 2022
Not heating, eating or meeting bills: managing a cost of living crisis on a low income
Not heating, eating or meeting bills: managing a cost of living crisis on a low income
June 29, 2022
Official statistics underestimate wealth inequality in Britain
Official statistics underestimate wealth inequality in Britain
January 7, 2022
Out of pocket: the places at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis
Out of pocket: the places at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis
July 14, 2022
Overcoming the liability of poorness: disadvantage, fragility, and the poverty entrepreneur
Overcoming the liability of poorness: disadvantage, fragility, and the poverty entrepreneur
October 3, 2020
Pre-pandemic relative poverty rate for children of lone parents almost double that for children living with two parents
Pre-pandemic relative poverty rate for children of lone parents almost double that for children living with two parents
July 4, 2022
Sources of wealth and their implications for taxation
Sources of wealth and their implications for taxation
October 30, 2020
Stagnation nation: Navigating a route to a fairer and more prosperous Britain
Stagnation nation: Navigating a route to a fairer and more prosperous Britain
July 13, 2022
The myth of meritocracy: who really gets what they deserve?
The myth of meritocracy: who really gets what they deserve?
October 19, 2018
We need to challenge the myth that the rich are specially-talented wealth creators
We need to challenge the myth that the rich are specially-talented wealth creators
January 27, 2015
Why free school meal recipients earn less than their peers
Why free school meal recipients earn less than their peers
August 4, 2022
Cited attitudinal and framing research
Brits back an annual tax on the super rich to help rebuild the NHS and public services
Brits back an annual tax on the super rich to help rebuild the NHS and public services
March 13, 2023
New data shows food insecurity major challenge to levelling up agenda
New data shows food insecurity major challenge to levelling up agenda
February 7, 2022
Talking about poverty: how experts and the public understand UK poverty
Talking about poverty: how experts and the public understand UK poverty
November 18, 2016
The Inheritance Tax Puzzle: Challenging assumptions about public attitudes to inheritance
The Inheritance Tax Puzzle: Challenging assumptions about public attitudes to inheritance
June 14, 2023
Stories from partner organisations
British children in poverty with no beds to sleep in or clean clothes to wear
British children in poverty with no beds to sleep in or clean clothes to wear
This documentary explores how cuts to children's services are affecting the poorest families and disrupting their children’s education
I don’t know how my school would function without teaching assistants
I don’t know how my school would function without teaching assistants
Southampton headteacher Sian Carr talks about the impact of the cost of living crisis on teaching assistants
NHS nurse and single mum living on just £24 a week after bills
NHS nurse and single mum living on just £24 a week after bills
Heather says she has to take on extra shifts rather than spend time with her children, even working during her holiday
If my rent goes for one month without being paid, then I’m homeless
If my rent goes for one month without being paid, then I’m homeless
Joanna talks about how her monthly paycheque is not enough to cover her rent, food, bills and other family essentials
I didn’t know how I was going to pay my bills or feed myself and my daughter
I didn’t know how I was going to pay my bills or feed myself and my daughter
Aneita talks about how a problem with her tax credits meant she was forced to use a food bank
The cost for our daughter to attend nursery is more than our mortgage
The cost for our daughter to attend nursery is more than our mortgage
Megan talks about how, although she is training full-time as a midwife, she only gets 15 hours of free childcare per week
I made money by betting inequality was going to destroy our economy
I made money by betting inequality was going to destroy our economy
City trader turned campaigner Gary Stevenson on how our current economic system is broken, and rewards speculation
If you grow up in poverty, there are so many more things against you
If you grow up in poverty, there are so many more things against you
Two friends, Amelia and Naomi, share their different experiences of poverty and the impact it has had on them
Why should someone who is in a really vulnerable position pay more?
Why should someone who is in a really vulnerable position pay more?
Paulette describes her experiences of living with the poverty premium by paying additional costs for a prepayment meter
