How unequal is Britain?

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In the first episode of our new series, we set out the big picture on inequality in the UK. We look at what has happened to income and wealth inequality and how Britain compares with other countries.

But inequality is not just about money. It shapes people’s opportunities, education, health, family life and where they live. Some gaps have narrowed over time, while others remain stubbornly wide - and some inequalities in one generation can shape the chances of the next.

Helen speaks with Paul Johnson and Jonathan Cribb to explore what the key facts tell us about modern Britain, what kinds of inequality we should worry about most, and where trade-offs with growth, fairness and redistribution become unavoidable.

This episode draws on work done as part of the IFS-Deaton Review, funded by the Nuffield Foundation.

Zooming in discussion questions:

These are a set of questions designed for A Level economics students to discuss, written by teacher Will Haines.

1. What is the difference between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome?
2. Explain a government policy that could both increase economic growth and reduce income inequality. Illustrate the effects of this policy using an aggregate demand and aggregate supply (AD–AS) diagram.
3. This episode focused on three areas of inequality: health, education, and geographical. Assess which of these areas is the most significant for the UK economy and suggest two policies to address it.