We study earnings and income inequality in Britain over the past two decades, including the period of relatively ‘inclusive’ growth from 1997 to 2004, and the Great Recession. We focus on the middle 90%, where trends have contrasted strongly with the ‘new inequality’ at the very top. Household earnings inequality has risen, driven by male earnings—although a ‘catch-up’ of female earnings did hold down individual earnings inequality and reduce within-household inequality. Nevertheless, net household income inequality fell due to deliberate increases in redistribution, the tax and transfer system's insurance role during the Great Recession, falling household worklessness, and rising pensioner incomes.
Authors
![Richard Blundell](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-03/Richard%20Blundell%20Head.jpg?itok=ow7e9OkA)
CPP Co-Director
Richard is Co-Director of the Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy (CPP) and Senior Research Fellow at IFS.
![Robert Joyce](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/Rob_Joyce.jpg?itok=4UaBJrrb)
Deputy Director
Robert is a Deputy Director. His work focuses on primarily on the labour market, income and wealth inequality, and the design of the welfare system.
![Jonathan Cribb](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2023-11/Jonathan%20Cribb.jpg?itok=8LgmPwOc)
Associate Director
Jonathan is an Associate Director and Head of Retirement, Savings and Ageing sector, focusing on pensions, savings and later-life economic activity.
![Person graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/IFS-person-graphic.png?itok=hWCtTSrz)
Andrew Hood
![Person graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/IFS-person-graphic.png?itok=hWCtTSrz)
Chris Belfield
Journal article details
- DOI
- 10.1111/ecca.12220
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Issue
- Volume 84, Issue 334, January 2017, pages 157-179
Suggested citation
Belfield, C et al. (2017). 'Two decades of income inequality in Britain: the role of wages, household earnings and redistribution' 84(334/2017), pp.157–179.
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