Kate Pickett

Great conversation last night on the future of education and how to make a good society with Isabel Berwick (FT), Anne-Marie Canning (UKKRI) and others.

The Good Society Join the University of York, Compass and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on Friday 20 February as we partner for the launch of Professor Kate Pickett’s new book.

If you're in York or nearby this week, please come and join me on Friday to talk about how we build a good society:

www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

On John Rawls, and the High Court Judgement on Palestine Action Civil disobedience, basic liberties and Yvette Cooper's violation of the basic preconditions for a democratic society

From my colleague, Professor Martin O'Neill:
John Rawls and the High Court Judgement on Palestine Action open.substack.com/pub/martinon...

‘I think we feel stuck’: Kate Pickett on how to build a better, fairer, less stressed society In her new book, the co-author of The Spirit Level gathers jaw-dropping facts about the inequality crisis in the UK – and explores creative ways to address it

Looking forward to reading the newest book by @humanists.uk patron @profkepickett.bsky.social. A masterclass in how evidence-based policy can address chronic inequality in the UK, I'm sure!

Why my vision of a Good Society is evidence-based, not utopian We have a choice about the kind of society that we build. A fairer, more prosperous society is possible, but requires moving away from “trickle-down” economics.

Talk of building a good society is often met with the charge of utopianism. But this is wrong, argues @profkepickett.bsky.social of @equalitytrust.bsky.social.

The blueprint for a fairer society lies in front of us – but it requires moving away from “trickle-down” economics

#LSEInequalitiesBlog

Thank you, Club of Rome, for publishing my blog post today!

What to read this February, including a guide to building a better society Martin Chilton shares his reading highlights for February

Really pleased to be non-fiction Book of the Month in the Independent: www.independent.co.uk/arts-enterta...

It's #ReclaimTheEconomyWeek! Around the world, people are coming together to demand an economy that puts people and planet first - and showing how it's already being done.

Sign the petition calling on leaders to redesign our economies to put people and planet at the centre: vist.ly/4p5xr

Fairness is key to a more cohesive Britain Fairness isn’t just a moral ideal. It is one of the civic conditions that makes collective life possible.

Fairness isn’t just a moral ideal. It is one of the civic conditions that makes collective life possible. A guest article by @emekaforbes.bsky.social

A vertical bar graph showing FTSE 100 CEOs grabbing £150,576 almost 4 times the average annual wage (£39,039) over the 12 Days of Christmas.

📢 THANK YOU for your support this year ♥️ Below is a reminder of the gross #inequality that ruins the UK every day. Figures are based on the High Pay Centre’s findings that, in 2024/25, the AVERAGE FTSE 100 CEO gouged a “salary” of £4,580,000. Divide by 365 and you get a daily pay out of £12,548 🤮🤮🤮

Just opened a big box of proof copies of my new book, available 5 Feb 2026, and can be pre-ordered from all good booksellers!

Proof copies of my new book. Publication is 05 Feb 2026. Available to preorder at all good book sellers!

‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims Equality Trust study shows how House of Lords appointments, big donations and media ownership affect political decisions

Well done @equalitytrust.bsky.social ! Great analysis and report
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

I've worked so hard with so many good colleagues towards this goal. But always more to do, so onwards

Debbie Abrahams MP at the Health Equity North drop-in

Health Equity North drop-in

Debbie Abrahams MP at the Health Equity North drop-in

Health Equity North drop-in

It was a pleasure to welcome @profbambra.bsky.social (newcastleuni.bsky.social), @lukemunford.bsky.social (@manchester.ac.uk) to Parliament yesterday.

As part of #HealthEquityNorth the #CommonsWorkandPensions commissioned them to analyse what savings could be generated from new #EmploymentSupport

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

For families who have struggled under the two-child restriction, today’s #Budget announcement offers them the chance to build a life free from poverty and deprivation.

Child of the North APPG Chair @emmalewellmp.bsky.social issued a statement on the news www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f...

The two-child cap will be removed from April! We have campaigned for years to end this unjust policy – through evidence, advocacy & collaboration. Half a million children will be immediately lifted from poverty as a result. Read our reaction 👇
www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f...
1/2 #Budget

Why the UK should look beyond growth to a ‘new economics’ that works for all Traditional economics can’t respond to global crises like inequality and climate change.

More on the Ten Principles of new economic thinking:
Why the UK should look beyond growth to a ‘new economics’ that works for all theconversation.com/why-the-uk-s...

Are We Humans or Homo Economicus? Why Economics Needs to Evolve Beyond Growth Economics assumes we behave like chimps, but humans are far more cooperative—and our economic models must catch up.

My new column: Are We Humans or Homo Economicus? Why Economics Needs to Evolve Beyond Growth www.socialeurope.eu/are-we-human...

Taxing the rich to help build social homes could save £4.5bn in housing benefit and £3.3bn in universal credit; for everyone £100 spent on community spare there is a 31% return on investment, and the two-child benefit cap causes child poverty that costs the state £3.2bn every year. Investing in people pays!

Doing all this popular and fair stuff to tax the rich would be great on its own terms, but it could also help allow real investment in our future – and that pays dividends. Plus you get a better society out of it. Everyone wins, including the richest!

Infographic explaining why taxing the rich is justified, highlighting £24.1 billion bank profits, £30 billion energy profits, and water bills funding private debt.

Did the richest work harder to win their explosion of wealth? No! The cost of living crisis allowed banks, energy companies, water companies, supermarkets and more to do absolutely nothing and watch their profits soar off our higher bills. Taxing the richest would be about taking our wealth back.

A graph showing the proportion of income paid in tax by the poorest 10% and the richest 10% in the UK. The proportion paid by the poorest 10% is consistently higher by about 10 percentage points from 2016 to 2024

Our tax system hugely favours the wealthiest. Taxes on income from work are much higher than passive income from wealth, allowing millionaires to pay effective tax rates that are half what the rest of us pay. Taxing the richest would make that system much fairer.

A graph showing UK billionaire wealth rising from £200bn to £650bn from 2010 to 2024. Over the same period, foodbank use increases from almost nothing in 2010 to a spike around 2015 of over 1mn, then continues to rocket up to over 3mn by 2024

Homelessness, foodbank use, and child poverty have all been growing alongside the wealth of the super rich. These things are two sides of the same coin: inequality is undermining our ability to provide for everyone.

Infographic explaining how taxing the rich can raise billions through closing tax loopholes and wealth taxes. Key points include £24bn from a wealth tax, £15bn from bank windfall taxes, £14bn a year from equalising capital gains taxes, and other loopholes and subsidies for polluters.

Taxing the rich could raise billions in the next budget – but that's far from the only reason to do it. Taxing the richest is popular, fair, and necessary to start making society more equal and our economy work better for everyone. Here's why:

Reposting with new link: www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...

Top economists call on world leaders to set up an international panel on inequality Hundreds of top economists and other experts including former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen are calling for the world to set up an independent international panel on income and wealth inequalit...

Proud to have signed letter from 600+ economists & inequality experts from 70 countries supporting the call for a new Independent Panel on Inequality- an Inequality IPCC- to tackle the inequality emergency- G20 leaders must support this. #G20SouthAfrica www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...

I was pleased to contribute to the work of the G20 Commission on wealth inequality led by Joseph Stiglitz: g20.org/resources/docu…
Help support the call for a new international agency to monitor inequality!

Academic Co-Director of @healthequitynorth.bsky.social @profkepickett.bsky.social will be speaking at our #ChildOfTheNorth panel event at #LabourPartyConference next week, touching on the regional inequalities young people are facing www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/addressing...

Welfare system is a key public health measure UK approach needs reconsideration to improve inequalities Health, and health inequalities, are almost universally recognised to have substantial social determinants.12 Although the Conservative gover...

Great editorial from great colleagues: www.bmj.com/content/390/...