1. Public attitudes towards inequality, redistribution, and welfare provision Tom Sefton London School of Economics

2. Attitudes towards inequality Most people think gap between rich and poor is too large

3. Source: British Social Attitudes Survey

4. Attitudes towards inequality Most people think gap between rich and poor is too large Concern about inequality extends across social and economic groups

5. Source: 2002 BSA

6. Attitudes towards inequality Most people think gap between rich and poor is too large Concern about inequality extends across social and economic groups Problem is (at least) as much to do with the top end of income distribution

7. Perceived average earnings of different occupations (1999) Median response (£ per annum) Does earn Should earn Shop assistant9,00012,000 Unskilled factory worker10,00012,000 Skilled factory worker15,00018,000 Solicitor50,00040,000 Manager of large factory55,00050,000 Appeal court judge80,00050,000 Chairman of large corporation125,00075,000 Ratio between highest and lowest13.96.3 Source: 1999 BSA

8. Attitudes towards inequality Most people think gap between rich and poor is too large Concern about inequality extends across social and economic groups Problem is (at least) as much to do with the top end of income distribution Clear majority believe government has a responsibility to reduce inequality

9. Attitudes towards redistribution Much less agreement on whether government should redistribute from rich to poor

10. Source: British Social Attitudes Survey

11. Attitudes towards redistribution Much less agreement on whether government should redistribute from rich to poor Ideological gap has narrowed, but differences by age have emerged

12. Changing attitudes towards redistribution, 1987-2002 % who agree that the government should redistribute income from better off to those who are worse off 198719962002 Change: 1987–2002 By party identification: Conservative2122210 Labour695849-20 By age group: 18–34504434-16 35–54424638-4 55+4243 +1 Source: British Social Attitudes Survey

13. Attitudes towards redistribution Much less agreement on whether government should redistribute from rich to poor Ideological gap has narrowed, but differences by age have emerged How to reconcile this with attitudes towards inequality?

14. Attitudes towards public spending Strong and continuing support for higher spending and taxes

15. Government should…

16. Attitudes towards public spending Strong and continuing support for higher spending and taxes: –Extends across socio-economic groups –Almost as strong among private welfare users –Health and education are highest priorities –Most would favour relatively small increases in spending in these areas

17. Attitudes towards public spending Strong and continuing support for higher spending and taxes… Contrasts with decline in support for more spending on welfare benefits for the poor

18. Government should…

19. Attitudes towards public spending Strong and continuing support for higher spending and taxes… Contrasts with declining support for more spending on welfare benefits for the poor Though widespread support for benefits to certain groups

20. Public attitudes towards welfare spending on poor or vulnerable groups % who say they would like to see more government spending on benefits for: Retired people Disabled people who cannot work Parents who work on very low incomes Single parents Unemployed people Of those who agree that government should spend more on welfare benefits for the poor 7978 4733 Of those who disagree that government should spend more on welfare benefits for the poor 675658277 Source: 2002 BSA

21. Attitudes towards social security On the one hand, benefit levels seen to be inadequate by many people

22. Attitudes towards social security On the one hand, benefit levels seen to be inadequate by many people On the other hand, there are strong and growing concerns about disincentive effects and fraud

23. Attitudes towards social security On the one hand, benefit levels seen to be inadequate by many people On the other hand, there are strong and growing concerns about disincentive effects and fraud Hardening of attitudes in recent years, especially among Labour identifiers and younger people

24. Source: British Social Attitudes Survey

25. And finally… Redistribution is not seen as a key outcome of public spending and taxation But, there does appear to be strong support for redistribution as by-product of taxing and spending in ways people want Concept of mutuality: people pay in what they reasonably can and draw out what they reasonably need