The report is illuminating especially for those obsessed with the idea that we achieve ‘equality’ by combating inequalities between social groups defined in terms of gender, ethnicity and so on. However desirable that is (and it is) ‘ the differences in outcomes between the more or less advantaged within each social group….are much greater than the differences between groups’. What Hills carefully answers is that CLASS (in the sense of objective economic position) is the more powerful determinant of life chances than any other variable, including gender and ethnicity.
It is no surprise at all that in recent weeks three separate pamphlets have been published which – from a right wing perspective - take issue with the research and the analysis of Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett’s widely acclaimed and best selling book ‘The Spirit Level: why equality is better for everyone’, which backs up Hills findings with a wealth of data and evidence.
http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resource/the-spirit-level
The authors of The Spirit Level have already written a detailed response http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/saunders-response (and also this one http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/09/spirit-level-policy-exchange published in the Guardian) which expose “the serious methodological errors” in Policy Exchange’s work; point out the lack of any peer-review of their detractors’ work; and cite the many other academics who have conducted research which supports The Spirit Level’s conclusions.
It is little wonder that the elite who have taken power via the Con Dem coup are so hostile to this analysis. They want to increase inequality, boost privilege and ensure that the divisions in society grow bigger. While the poorest will suffer most and require more support to survive and exist, what these reports show, and what UNISON has long argued, is that improvements can only happen once there are fewer economic gaps between all sections of society. This is a further part of the co-ordinated attack by the right wing and one we must all work even harder to expose.
Bob Oram
