How unequal is Britain?

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

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