Debt and Wealth Inequality

Debt and Wealth Inequality

From Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

March 10, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

The episode explores the emotional and economic impacts of debt and the persistence of wealth inequality in the UK through discussions with experts.

What does an 18-month study of residents on a housing estate in southern England tell us about living with debt? Laurie Taylor talks to Ryan Davey from Cardiff University about his new book The Personal Life of Debt - Coercion, Subjectivity and Inequality in Britain, which tries to understand how debt affects people emotionally as well as economically. Laurie is also joined by Sarah Kerr (LSE International Inequalities Institute), whose book, Wealth, Poverty and Enduring Inequality - Let’s Talk Wealtherty, investigates the stubborn persistence of inequality in the UK. Kerr argues that the gap between top and bottom earners has become entrenched and normalised across generations. Producer: Natalia Fernandez

People in this episode

Host: Laurie Taylor

Guests: Ryan Davey, Sarah Kerr

Topics covered

  • debt
  • wealth inequality
  • emotional impact of debt
  • economic inequality
  • housing estate
  • UK society

Keywords

  • debt
  • wealth inequality
  • emotional impact
  • economic inequality
  • housing estate
  • UK
  • Ryan Davey
  • Sarah Kerr

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cardiff University, LSE International Inequalities Institute

Books & works: The Personal Life of Debt - Coercion, Subjectivity and Inequality in Britain, Wealth, Poverty and Enduring Inequality - Let’s Talk Wealtherty

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