
How unequal is Britain?
From IFS Zooms In: The Economy by Institute for Fiscal Studies
June 4, 2026 · 48 min · Season 7 · Episode 15
About this episode
The episode explores the state of inequality in the UK, discussing income, wealth, and their broader impacts on society.
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Helen
Guests: Paul Johnson, Jonathan Cribb
Topics covered
- inequality
- income
- wealth
- education
- health
- opportunities
- redistribution
Keywords
- inequality
- income inequality
- wealth inequality
- education
- health
- opportunities
- family life
- redistribution
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Institute for Fiscal Studies
Places: Britain, UK
More episodes of IFS Zooms In: The Economy
- Inequality: what does Britain really think? · June 11, 2026 · 48 min
- The tough fiscal reality facing the UK government · May 28, 2026 · 47 min
- Why is UK electricity so expensive? · May 21, 2026 · 50 min
- What do councils actually do? · May 14, 2026 · 42 min
- The tough choices facing Wales’s next government · April 15, 2026 · 45 min
- Why Scotland’s next government faces tough choices · April 8, 2026 · 47 min
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