"The Spirit Level at 15: The Enduring Impact of Inequality" revisits the influential work "The Spirit Level" fifteen years after its initial publication. It underscores the persistent and growing impact of economic inequality on various societal dimensions. The report argues that inequality remains a critical driver of numerous social ills, including poor physical and mental health, low educational attainment, high rates of imprisonment, and decreased social mobility. The updated analysis highlights new data linking inequality to environmental degradation, illustrating how the consumption patterns of the wealthiest exacerbate carbon emissions, air pollution, and reduced recycling rates. The authors call for urgent action to address income and wealth disparities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive policy changes to reduce inequality and promote social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience. Key recommendations include implementing wealth taxes, transforming social security systems, and investing in community wealth building. The report aims to reignite the conversation on inequality and inspire policy reforms to create a fairer and more equitable society.
Authors
Kate Pickett, Aini Gauhar, Richard Wilkinson, Priya Sahni-Nicholas
- Pages
- 39
- Published in
- United Kingdom
Table of Contents
- FOREWORD 3
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4
- 1. INEQUALITY IS CENTRAL TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS 4
- 2. INEQUALITY ERODES SOCIAL COHESION 5
- 3. INEQUALITY PREJUDICES THE CHANCES OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 6
- 4. INEQUALITY IS A DETERMINANT OF POPULATION HEALTH AND WELLBEING 7
- 5. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 8
- WE CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO 8
- CONTENTS 9
- NOTES ON GRAPHS 10
- DATA COMMENTARY 10
- INTRODUCTION 11
- SECTION 1 INEQUALITY IS CENTRAL TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS 13
- SECTION 2 INEQUALITY ERODES SOCIAL COHESION 16
- SECTION 3 INEQUALITY PREJUDICES THE LIFE CHANCES OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 21
- SECTION 4 INEQUALITY DETERMINES POPULATION HEALTH AND WELLBEING 25
- SECTION 5 RECOMMENDATIONS 30
- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A JUST TRANSITION 30
- TACKLE PROGRESSIVE WEALTH TAXATION 30
- RAPIDLY SHIFTING AWAY FROM POLLUTING INDUSTRIES 30
- REDUCE EXCESSIVE AND CARBON-INTENSIVE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION 31
- PROMOTE WELLBEING AND INCLUSION 31
- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COHESIVE AND ENGAGED COMMUNITIES 32
- DELIVER UNIVERSAL BASIC SERVICES 32
- END THE CORPORATE CAPTURE OF OUR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS 32
- PROMOTE PUBLIC SPACE AND TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE 32
- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITIES 33
- PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 33
- MAINTAIN A HEALTHY STANDARD OF LIVING 33
- TACKLE THE FINANCIALISATION OF HOUSING 34
- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE-CENTRED GOVERNANCE AND WORK 34
- SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL MODELS 34
- SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS MODELS 35
- INVEST IN QUALITY LABOUR PRACTICES 35
