The Spirit Level: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of The Spirit Level, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
Unequal societies do worse
Wilkinson and Pickett, epidemiologists, argue that among rich countries, those with bigger gaps between rich and poor suffer more social problems.
They link inequality to poorer health, more crime and lower trust.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
Comparing rich countries reveals patterns
The authors compare wealthy nations such as Japan, Sweden, Britain and the United States.
More unequal countries, in their data, score worse on many measures of well-being. They present this as a pattern across countries, not a one-off result.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
American states show the same
The authors find similar patterns among the fifty US states.
States with greater inequality tend to have more problems, which supports their argument. Using states within one country lets them compare places that share a language and laws.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
Inequality affects health
The authors argue that people in more unequal societies tend to live shorter lives and have higher rates of obesity and other health problems.
This holds, they say, even for people who are not poor.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Trust falls as gaps widen
The authors find that people in more unequal societies trust each other less.
They argue that large gaps weaken community bonds. In their account, where gaps are small, people feel more equal and more willing to rely on one another.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
Mental illness rises
The authors report higher rates of mental illness in more unequal societies.
They link this to stress and competition. In their account, living with large gaps in income makes many people feel judged and uneasy.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Status worries cause stress
The authors argue that inequality increases status anxiety, worry about where one stands compared with others.
This stress harms well-being. They suggest that feeling looked down on can affect people at every level, not only the poorest.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Critics raised doubts
The authors propose policies to narrow income gaps.
Some critics have questioned their statistical methods and choice of countries, and the debate continues. The authors have defended their analysis, so readers can weigh both sides.
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