Richard Wilkinson. Emeritus ... G erm any. N eth erlan ds. S pain. F ran ce. C
anada. S wizterlan d. Irelan d. G reece. Italy ... Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit
Level.
Equality and Sustainability Richard Wilkinson Emeritus Professor of Social Epidemiology
Photo by kind permission of Matt Stuart
2
Inequality... How much richer are the richest 20% in each country than the poorest 20%? Income gaps How many times richer are the richest fifth than the poorest fifth?
9.7 8.0
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
po re
Sin
ga
ga l US A
Po r tu
UK
7.2 6.7 6.8 6.8 7.0
It a ly Isr Ne ae l w Ze ala nd Au st r ali a
6.1 6.2
d No rw ay Sw ed en De nm ar k Be l gi um Au st r ia Ge rm an Ne y t he r la nd s Sp ai n Fra nc e Ca na da Sw izt erl an d Ir e lan d Gr ee ce
lan
Fin
Ja
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4.6 4.8 4.3 3.9 4.0 3.4 3.7
5.6 5.6 5.6 5.7 5.2 5.3
8.5
Index of: • Life expectancy • Math & Literacy • Infant mortality • Homicides • Imprisonment • Teenage births • Trust • Obesity • Mental illness – incl. drug & alcohol addiction • Social mobility
Index of health and social problems
Health and social problems are worse in more unequal countries
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
Index of: • Life expectancy • Math & Literacy • Infant mortality • Homicides • Imprisonment • Teenage births • Trust • Obesity • Mental illness – incl. drug & alcohol addiction • Social mobility
Index of health and social problems
Neither health nor social problems are related to national income per head
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
Child well-being is better in more equal countries
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
The UNICEF Index of Child Wellbeing is not related to National Income per head
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
People in more unequal countries trust each other less
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
People in more unequal states of the USA trust each other less
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
Bigger income gaps lead to deteriorations in:Social Relations • • • • •
Child conflict Homicide Imprisonment Social capital Trust
• • • • •
Health
Drug abuse Infant mortality Life expectancy Mental illness Obesity
Human Capital • • • • •
Child wellbeing High school drop outs Math & literacy scores Social mobility Teenage births
Equality and Sustainability • Reducing carbon emissions does not mean reducing the real quality of life • Great inequality intensifies consumerism • People in more equal societies are more public spirited, better able to act for the common good 11
World average CO2
www.equalitytrust.org.uk
Working hours are longer in more unequal countries
Source: Bowles S, Park Y. Economic Journal 2005; 115 (507): F397–F412. 2005.
More equal countries are more generous foreign aid donors
People use bicycles more often in more equal societies
Data compiled by Oy Kanjanavanit from various sources
Business leaders in more equal countries give a higher priority to complying with international environmental agreements
With permission from R De Vogli & D Gimeno
More equal countries recycle more waste Best Japan
Sweden
Germany
Recycling (average rank)
Switzerland
France
Australia Italy
Portugal
Spain
USA UK
Worst Low
High Income Inequality
Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)
“Growth is a substitute for equality of income. So long as there is growth there is hope, and that makes large income differentials tolerable.” - Henry Wallich, former governor of the US Federal Reserve Bank and professor of economics at Yale.
But...if growth and equality are substitutes, then equality maybe a precondition for a steady-state economy. 18
