Submitted by Kathryn Busby on 26 March 2010

Report cover


The impact of income inequalities on sustainable development in London is a powerful and compelling new report written by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, published by the London Sustainable Development Commission.

Download a PDF of the report.

 

If the UK enjoyed levels of equality closer to countries like Sweden or Japan, the evidence indicates that obesity in London would decline by 50 per cent, mental illness would be reduced to less than one-third of its present levels, and the teenage birth rate would be cut by almost three quarters.

It shows that although the biggest improvements would be seen in the poorest boroughs, life in the richest ones would also get better.

Prof Kate Pickett, report co-author: “We worked out how much life could improve for Londoners if the incomes of rich and poor were closer together in the UK. Not only is life better for poorer people, even the rich benefit, for example from higher life expectancy, better mental health, and lower crime rates.”

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