1. The Inner Level shows:
How income inequality strengthens the grip of class and status
How popular myths about human nature and capabilities are used to justify inequality
How we can tackle inequality and why it is vital we do so if we are to make the transition to sustainable wellbeing

2. The Inner Level builds on The Spirit Level, which showed that:
Income inequality is linked to a wide range of health and social problems
The effects are large – there are big differences between societies
Not only the poor are affected, inequality affects the whole population

5. Section 1
Inequality in the Mind

6. Inequality increases anxieties about status, making people doubt their self-worth
Redrawn from data kindly provided by Richard Layte: Layte R, Whelan C. Who feels inferior? A test of the status anxiety hypothesis of social inequalities in health. European Sociological Review. 2014;30:

7. So we see more mental illness in unequal societies

8. One response is for people to become depressed…
Redrawn from data in: Messias E, Eaton WW, Grooms AN. Economic grand rounds: Income inequality and depression prevalence across the United States: an ecological study. Psychiatric Services. 2011;62(7):

9. …and withdraw from social interaction
Redrawn from data in: Lancee B, Van de Werfhorst HG. Income inequality and participation: A comparison of 24 European countries. Social science research. 2012;41(5):

10. Another response is for people to exaggerate their self-importance…
Redrawn from data kindly provided by Peter Kuppens and Steve Loughnan et al . Economic inequality is linked to biased self-perception. Psychological science. 2011;22(10):

11. ….and become more narcissistic
College students’ Narcissistic Personality Inventory scores over time reflect the rise in US income inequality

12. Addictive behaviour increases: e.g., gambling

13. Money and consumerism become more important
Redrawn from data kindly provided by Iacoviello M. Household Debt and Income Inequality, 1963–2003. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking. 2008;40(5):

14. Myths of Human Nature, Meritocracy and Class
Section 2
Myths of Human Nature, Meritocracy and Class

15. Some people believe that inequality is inevitable given human nature
But human nature is a two-sided coin:
We have contrasting social strategies for both egalitarian and hierarchical societies
How we are depends on where we are

16. Some people believe that the hierarchy is a meritocracy
But the brain is highly malleable
Differences in ability reflect class environments and what people do

17. A wider gap in educational attainment is created by inequality

18. Income inequality increases inequalities of opportunity
Redrawn using data from the World Bank and Corak M. Income inequality, equality of opportunity, and intergenerational mobility. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 2013;27(3):

19. Section 3
The Road Ahead

20. GDP rises, but Life Satisfaction and the Genuine Progress Indicator no longer rise with it
Redrawn from data kindly provided by Kubiszewski I, Costanza R, Franco C, et al. Beyond GDP: Measuring and achieving global genuine progress. Ecological Economics. 2013;93(0):57-68.

22. The fall and rise of inequality

23. Inequality is the mirror image of trade union strength
Redrawn from data provided by Colin Gordon: Eisenbrey RG, C. As unions decline, inequality rises. Economic Policy Institute; 2012.

24. The take-off of top incomes
Ratio of CEO pay to average pay of production workers in largest 350 US companies
Redrawn from data kindly provided by Mishel L, Sabadish N. Pay and the top 1%: How executive compensation and financial-sector pay have fuelled income inequality. Economic Policy Institute;2012.

25. Embedding greater equality requires economic democracy