Income inequality in society will rise
The rising trend in UK income inequality has raised concerns about the possible impact this will have on public health and the resulting increase in demand for Social Care services and personal assistants.
Income inequality (the gap between incomes of the richest and poorest in society) is expected to grow over the next few years. Since the 1980s, the level of income inequality in the UK has grown at an increasing rate, a trend associated with reduced health and social well-being. Evidence also exists of a ‘social gradient’ in health, with lower socio-economic status linked to poorer health outcomes. Income inequalities may also have a negative impact on mental health, which could prove to be both a cause and effect of inequalities in society. Areas in the UK with particularly high levels of deprivation have shown increases in referrals to services, particularly for working-age adults and this trend is expected to continue. The possible impact of this rise income inequality could increase the demand for Social Care services and personal assistants.
Sources or references
- Aldridge, H., Parekh, A., MacInnes, T., and Kenway, P. (2011). Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2011.
- Dorling, D., Mitchell, R., and Pearce, J. (2007). The global impact of income inequality on health by age: an observational study.
- Friedli, L (2009). Mental health, resilience and inequalities. [online] Copenhagen: World Health Organization.
- Jin, W., Joyce, R., Phillips, D., and Sibieta, L. (2011). Poverty and Inequality in the UK: 2011.
- Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. (2011). Health Inequalities. Health, Social Care & Deprivation.
- Rowlingson, K. (2011). Does income inequality cause health and social problems?
- Wilkinson, R.G., and Pickett, K.E. (2006). Income inequality and population health: A review and explanation of the evidence. Social Science & Medicine, 62(7), pp.1768-84.
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
