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The income distribution in the UK: A picture of advantage and disadvantage

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  • Stephen P Jenkins

Abstract

This paper describes the UK income distribution and how it has evolved over the last 50 years. It also includes some comparisons with the income distributions of other rich countries. Multiple perspectives on the distribution are provided: there is evidence about real income levels and inequality, and the prevalence of affluence and of poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen P Jenkins, 2015. "The income distribution in the UK: A picture of advantage and disadvantage," CASE Papers /186, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
  • Handle: RePEc:cep:sticas:/186
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    File URL: https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cp/casepaper186.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anthony B. Atkinson & Thomas Piketty & Emmanuel Saez, 2011. "Top Incomes in the Long Run of History," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 49(1), pages 3-71, March.
    2. John Hills, 2010. "An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK - Report of the National Equality Panel," CASE Reports casereport60, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    3. Jenkins, Stephen P., 2011. "Changing Fortunes: Income Mobility and Poverty Dynamics in Britain," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199226436.
    4. Paul Johnson & Steven Webb, 1992. "The Treatment of Housing in Official Low Income Statistics," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 155(2), pages 273-290, March.
    5. Paul Gregg & Stephen Machin & Mariña Fernández-Salgado, 2014. "The Squeeze on Real Wages – and what it Might take to End it," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 228(1), pages 3-16, May.
    6. Brian D. Bell & John Van Reenen, 2013. "Extreme Wage Inequality: Pay at the Very Top," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(3), pages 153-157, May.
    7. Atkinson, Anthony B., 2015. "Inequality what can be done?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101810, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bazillier, Rémi & Héricourt, Jérôme & Ligonnière, Samuel, 2021. "Structure of income inequality and household leverage: Cross-country causal evidence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    2. Kaixing Huang & Nicholas Sim & Hong Zhao, 2020. "Does Fdi Actually Affect Income Inequality? Insights From 25 Years Of Research," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 630-659, July.
    3. Mike Collins & Rein Haudenhuyse, 2015. "Social Exclusion and Austerity Policies in England: The Role of Sports in a New Area of Social Polarisation and Inequality?," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 3(3), pages 5-18.
    4. Rémi Bazillier & Jérôme Héricourt & Samuel Ligonnière, 2017. "Structure of Income Inequality and Household Leverage: Theory and Cross-Country Evidence," Working Papers 2017-01, CEPII research center.
    5. Mike Collins & Rein Haudenhuyse, 2015. "Social Exclusion and Austerity Policies in England: The Role of Sports in a New Area of Social Polarisation and Inequality?," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 3(3), pages 5-18.
    6. Ken Roberts, 2020. "Dealignment: Class in Britain and Class in British Sociology Since 1945," Societies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-13, October.
    7. Gush, Karon & Laurie, Heather & Scott, James, 2015. "Job loss and social capital: the role of family, friends and wider support networks," ISER Working Paper Series 2015-07, Institute for Social and Economic Research.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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