Richer Yet Poorer: Economic inequality and polarisation in the North of England

Article

This report explores how patterns of household income and individual pay inequality differ across the Northern regions and the extent to which Northern city-regions are becoming more spatially polarised in terms of household income and segregated in terms of economic inactivity over time.

It also considers whether different levels of polarisation correlate to social and community outcomes in city-regions. Overall, levels of household income and individual pay inequality in the North are lower than the UK average, particularly compared to the Greater South East. But between 1998 and 2008 pay inequality increased in the North, in line with wider UK trends. It is fairer up North, but equality is being eroded over time.

Related items

  1. The Home Office building in London

    A ‘paradigm shift’ in asylum and immigration policy?

    In 2019, a package of asylum reforms known as the ‘paradigm shift’ was passed by a broad party consensus in the Danish parliament.
  2. A wide shot of the debating chamber at the Scottish parliament

    A return north: reflections on IPPR Scotland’s tenth anniversary conference

    There’s nothing like moving away from Scotland to remind you just how Scottish you are. 
  3. Newcastle street view of famous bridge and buildings

    The evolution of devolution: How the English devolution and community empowerment bill can go further

    The government’s early commitment to broadening and deepening devolution in England is very welcome, but the bill must be bold enough to make change that people can see and feel.