How Economic Inequality Harms Societies

A British social epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson has studied for decades the social effects of income inequality and how social forces affect health. In this disturbing and important talk he charts the hard data on economic inequality in various countries, and shows what gets worse when rich and poor are too far apart: real effects on health, lifespan, and even such basic values as trust. Wilkinson is the co-author of a groundbreaking and much recommended book The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger, that proves that societies that are more equal are healthier and happier, with less levels of violence, addiction, obesity and teen pregnancy.