This page sets out some of the key arguments about the causes and consequences of the gaps highlighted in this section (including why they are unfair). It is not intended to be comprehensive. Click on a box to read the supporting arguments from highlighted third-party reports.
What are the causes of unfair essentials?
The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already![The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fa5713e6a-fc12-44a8-8ee2-1da4b0f25f01.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already
![The best way to become wealthy is to be wealthy already](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fa5713e6a-fc12-44a8-8ee2-1da4b0f25f01.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
The rising costs of living hit poorer households harder![The rising costs of living hit poorer households harder](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fa7b31dde-c544-415b-8ad4-517e61f20c63.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
The rising costs of living hit poorer households harder
![The rising costs of living hit poorer households harder](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fa7b31dde-c544-415b-8ad4-517e61f20c63.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money![Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F452a5b08-1252-42ff-9039-431f19af5d44.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money
![Many high earners are paid unreasonably large amounts of money](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F452a5b08-1252-42ff-9039-431f19af5d44.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work![Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Ffe9e7da9-3a57-4d51-88d5-8ac7cd19c577.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work
![Too many people are on low incomes and in insecure work](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Ffe9e7da9-3a57-4d51-88d5-8ac7cd19c577.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards ![Income inequality is high by historical and European standards](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fadcf68e9-c250-46f8-be17-3a74eecce06f.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Income inequality is high by historical and European standards
![Income inequality is high by historical and European standards](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fadcf68e9-c250-46f8-be17-3a74eecce06f.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
What are the consequences of unfair essentials?
People from poorer backgrounds do less well at school![People from poorer backgrounds do less well at school](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F6af121b3-27e9-47df-9683-3499560ab9b5.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
People from poorer backgrounds do less well at school
![People from poorer backgrounds do less well at school](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F6af121b3-27e9-47df-9683-3499560ab9b5.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks![Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F41895ae7-ea6a-4e83-86db-8b8779dec8cd.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks
![Poorer people don’t have a buffer against economic shocks](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F41895ae7-ea6a-4e83-86db-8b8779dec8cd.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities![Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fe6aad3b2-7329-4532-b0f6-ea1b9958f299.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities
![Disadvantage undermines people’s capabilities and opportunities](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fe6aad3b2-7329-4532-b0f6-ea1b9958f299.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities![The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fed22cc40-9eb9-4d74-b2ad-968725f190d2.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities
![The structure of our economy leads to huge regional inequalities](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fed22cc40-9eb9-4d74-b2ad-968725f190d2.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality![Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F39ddb333-260d-4cc8-968d-979274837747.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality
![Socio-economic inequality leads to environmental inequality](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F39ddb333-260d-4cc8-968d-979274837747.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice![Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Ff8f223a7-1916-4af3-9778-8aa0c6b3ff73.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice
![Socio-economic inequality leads to more crime and less effective criminal justice](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Ff8f223a7-1916-4af3-9778-8aa0c6b3ff73.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality![Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fdfb642f8-e63b-47be-88d8-c8eb5e521c5c.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality
![Socio-economic inequality leads to political inequality](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fdfb642f8-e63b-47be-88d8-c8eb5e521c5c.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
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](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F1f36b89f-c729-47b8-8449-858786032b9a.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
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](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F1f36b89f-c729-47b8-8449-858786032b9a.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities![Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F3bb9c576-12b5-435f-9337-7226c49a2754.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities
![Socio-economic inequality leads to health inequalities](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F3bb9c576-12b5-435f-9337-7226c49a2754.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage![The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Ffb679bb4-62aa-4e7d-920b-32bbaad48792.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage
![The education system can never totally compensate for disadvantage](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Ffb679bb4-62aa-4e7d-920b-32bbaad48792.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality![Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fbee09413-20f4-49a7-b3a8-e06346dabd88.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality
![Wealth inequality is much larger than income inequality](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fbee09413-20f4-49a7-b3a8-e06346dabd88.jpg&w=1080&q=90)