Those interested in pursuing this further might be interested in the videos from the Royal Statistical Society Event last year, linked here.
http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2010/the-spirit-level
However beware that their blog
http://projects.rsablogs.org.uk/2010/07/statistical-cat-fight/
is headlined as 'a statistical cat fight' and describes the event as "technical details of statistical analysis coated in layers of moral invective."
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: Social-Policy is run by SPA for all social policy specialists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Karen Rowlingson
Sent: 22 September 2011 10:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Does income inequality cause health and social problems?
Dear Colleagues
Just over a year ago, I emailed this list to ask for your thoughts on a JRF study I had just started which aimed to investigate whether income inequality had negative effects. Many of you replied with very helpful comments and references. So thank you for your input.
The report is published today and you can find it on:
http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/income-inequality-health-social-problems
I have also written a blog for the LSE which you can post comments on if you so wish:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/2011/09/22/tackling-inequality-and-poverty/
I am also copying a very brief summary here for your information ...
The UK witnessed a dramatic growth in income inequality in the 1980s, and since then the level of inequality has increased further, though at a slower rate. But should we be concerned about this? This report provides an independent review of the evidence about the impact of inequality, paying particular attention to the evidence and arguments put forward in The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett (2009).
Key findings
The literature shows general agreement about a correlation between income inequality and health/social problems.
There is less agreement about whether income inequality causes health and social problems independently of other factors, but some rigorous studies have found evidence of this.
The independent effect of income inequality on health/social problems shown in some studies looks small in statistical terms. But these studies cover whole populations, and hence a significant number of lives.
Some research suggests that inequality is particularly harmful beyond a certain threshold. Britain was below this threshold in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, but rose past it in 1986–7 and has settled well above it since 1998–9. If the threshold is significant it could provide a target for policy.
Anxiety about status might explain income inequality’s effect on health and social problems. If so, inequality is harmful because it places people in a hierarchy which increases competition for status, causing stress and leading to poor health and other negative outcomes.
Not all research shows an independent effect of income inequality on health/social problems. Some highlights the role of individual income (poverty/material circumstances), culture/history, ethnicity and welfare state institutions/social policies.
The author concludes that there is a strong case for further research on income inequality and discussion of the policy implications.
All the best and please do comment on the blog if you wish to.
Karen
Karen Rowlingson
Professor of Social Policy
University of Birmingham
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