Institute for Fiscal Studies 26d ago

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. Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membership Find out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts 00:00 - Introduction 2:25 - Income and wealth inequality 5:05 - The importance of growth 9:25 - Opportunity vs outcomes 12:00 - Educational inequalities 17:20 - Role of the state vs family 19:00 - Geographical inequalities 28:55 - Role of tax and benefit system 32:35 - Health inequalities 38:38 - Are expectations rising? 41:50 - Are things better or worse? 45:50 - Conclusion