London School of Economics - Inequality from cradle to grave

Policy interventions are needed at each stage in people's lives to counter the way economic inequalities are reinforced over their lifespans, a panel has argued. The National Equality Panel, chaired by John Hills, professor of social policy at the London School of Economics, says in a report that "deep-seated and systematic differences" remain between social groups. People's origins shape their life chances from cradle to grave, the panel found. Differences in wealth are associated with opportunities such as living in the catchment areas of the best schools or helping children on to the housing ladder. Later in life, wealth levels are associated with stark differences in life expectancy after the age of 50.