UK: Gotta get out of this place

Westminster’s new buzz phrase is social mobility. Or how much an adult’s life is determined by their childhood surroundings.

A nation with high social mobility means that the poorest have the potential to achieve success. Growing up in a crappy area doesn’t mean that you’ll always have to stay there.

The IPPR have said that in deprived areas: death rates are 1.7% higher; teenage pregnancy is higher; you are 2.5 times more likely to be mugged or burgled and there is a higher fear of crime (then in nicer parts of the UK).

There are initiatives to improve areas, such as the single regeneration budget, the new deal for communities and neighbourhood renewal but they have had a small and slow impact.

The IPPR suggests that there needs to be a better mix of rich and poor in areas and are looking into the fact that strong growth in house prices has increased social polarisation.

Meanwhile Britain’s low and declining social mobility is set against a growing income inequality proving wrong the dominant ‘80s and 90s idea that growth would redistribute itself.

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