Is inequality the problem?

To a host of observers, reducing economic inequality should not just be a goal but a top priority, because inequality has harmful consequences for a range of other things we care about, including living standards, democracy, equality of opportunity, health and happiness.

But is there a compelling case for significantly reducing economic inequality?

Join us at this event to hear the latest research from Professor Lane Kenworthy, who has examined the experience of the rich democratic nations in the era of high and rising income inequality, from 1979 to 2019.

He has found that the evidence that inequality has had damaging effects is underwhelming. Reducing income inequality, he says, isn't likely to significantly boost living standards for the poor or the middle class. It probably won't do much to equalise political influence. It's unlikely to help much with equalisation of economic opportunity and it probably won't make much difference for our health. And it's doubtful that it will facilitate a rise in happiness.

Instead, we're likely to make more progress in these areas by addressing them directly, rather than by pursuing them indirectly via a reduction in income inequality or wealth inequality. Reducing economic inequality should be a secondary goal, not a principal aim.

About the Speaker

Lane Kenworthy is Professor of Sociology and Yankelovich Chair in Social Thought at the University of California-San Diego. He studies the causes and consequences of living standards, poverty, inequality, mobility, employment, economic growth, social policy, taxes, public opinion, politics and more in the United States and other affluent countries. His books include Would Democratic Socialism Be Better? (2022), Social Democratic Capitalism (2020), The Good Society (thegoodsociety.net), How Big Should Our Government Be? (2016), Social Democratic America (2014), Progress for the Poor (2011), Jobs with Equality (2008), Egalitarian Capitalism (2004), and In Search of National Economic Success (1995). For more information on his research, visit lanekenworthy.net

This event is hosted by the University of Bath Institute for Policy Research (IPR).

Access information

Room 3.14 is on the third floor of the building. The room is a tiered lecture theatre. It has wheelchair access.

There are lifts inside the building. There are accessible toilets inside the building.

There are Blue Badge spaces in all campus car parks. View an accessibility map of parking and wheelchair access points on campus. Visit the Campus Car Parks page on AccessAble for more information.

If you have a question about access, please contact us via Eventbrite or email us at ipr@bath.ac.uk

Getting to the University

By Bus

First West of England runs three services between Bath and the University campus:

• The U1 goes between the University, the City Centre and Oldfield Park
• The U2 takes you from Oldfield Park to the University and back again
• Service 20 runs between the University of Bath and Twerton, Wedgwood Road

Abus Service 22 runs a route between Twerton, Combe Down and the University Campus.

Visit the bus section on the website to find out about the bus services you can take to and from the University’s Claverton Down campus.

Cycling and Walking

You can walk or bike from the centre of Bath using North Road, Bathwick Hill or Widcombe Hill. These routes involve a steep uphill climb. It will take 30-40 minutes to walk to campus.

Visit the cycling and walking section on the website for more detail about the routes.

Driving

If you drive to the University, you can use the Pay to Park parking on campus and pay using the JustPark app. There is Pay to Park parking for visitors in the East Car Park and the South Car Park. If you have a Blue Badge, you can use disabled parking spaces free of charge. There are Blue Badge spaces in all campus car parks.

Visit the parking section on the website for more detailed information on parking at the campus.

View an accessibility map of parking and wheelchair access points on campus. Visit the Campus Car Parks page on AccessAble for more information.