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 opportunities?
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)
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)
Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes![Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F9a0b9c38-94ef-453d-9616-c63adb2c7b59.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes
![Genetic differences only play a small part in determining educational outcomes](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F9a0b9c38-94ef-453d-9616-c63adb2c7b59.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)
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)
Children with special needs are not well enough supported![Children with special needs are not well enough supported](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F1d51ce0a-d602-4245-a97b-339c076c0303.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Children with special needs are not well enough supported
![Children with special needs are not well enough supported](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F1d51ce0a-d602-4245-a97b-339c076c0303.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)
What are the consequences of unfair opportunities?
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)
There is little relationship between merit and reward![There is little relationship between merit and reward](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F6d08feb1-6b82-4707-8694-6963a560f972.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
There is little relationship between merit and reward
![There is little relationship between merit and reward](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2F6d08feb1-6b82-4707-8694-6963a560f972.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health![Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fbca331bc-458d-4816-8512-9acd8ec9b967.jpg&w=1080&q=90)
Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health
![Poor quality work undermines people’s physical and mental health](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.super.so%2F03f51344-31a4-4cd4-8699-526fe796a0ee%2Fimages%2Fbca331bc-458d-4816-8512-9acd8ec9b967.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)
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)
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)