1. Inequality and child wellbeing
Kate E Pickett, PhD FRSA FFPH

3. Fig 1 All cause mortality in children aged 0-14 years in European countries (three year moving average)10.
Wolfe I et al. BMJ 2011;342:bmj.d1277
©2011 by British Medical Journal Publishing Group

4. The UNICEF Index of Child Well-being, 2007

8. Child Well-being is Better in More Equal Rich Countries
Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)

9. Child wellbeing and income inequality in US States
Correlations and p-values
Income inequality
Average income
Foundation for Child Development 25-item index
0.43
(0.002)
-0.61
(<0.001)
Kids Count 10-item index (shown in graph)
0.51
-0.53

10. Child outcomes related to income inequality
In rich countries
Infant mortality
Low birth weight
Overweight
Educational achievement
Peer relations
Bullying
Teenage births
Social mobility
In US states
Infant mortality
Low birth weight
Overweight
Educational achievement
Mental health problems
Teenage pregnancy
Juvenile homicides

11. More children are overweight in more unequal countries
Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)

15. Income inequality and school bullying by 11-year-olds in 37 countries (r = .62)
Elgar FJ, Craig W, Boyce W, Morgan A, Vella-Zarb R. Income inequality and school bullying:
multilevel study of adolescents in 37 countries. J Adolesc Health. Oct 2009;45(4):

16. Social mobility is lower in more unequal countries
Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level

17. Infant mortality rates by social class
Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)

19. Why are children so sensitive to inequality?
Effects of relative poverty on material resources?
Impact on family life and relationships?
Direct experience of increased status differentiation?

20. Inequality affects family life & relationships
Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)

22. Inequality affects family life & relationships
Source: Bowles S, Park Y. Economic Journal 2005; 115 (507): F397–F

23. Iacoviello M. Household Debt and Income Inequality, 1963–2003
Iacoviello M. Household Debt and Income Inequality, 1963–2003. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking 2008;40(5):

24. Status differentiation has a direct effect on cognitive performance
The Effect of Caste Identity on Children's Performance
Number of mazes solved
Caste Unannounced
Caste Announced
Source: Hoff K, Pandey P, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3351, June 2004

25. Inequalities become entrenched early in life
Cognitive scores at 3 years of age (MCS)
Children with the most educated parents 12 months ahead of those with the least educated parents
Children in families with incomes below our poverty line had scores about 8 months behind those with incomes above it
White children about half a month ahead of the all-UK average, followed by children from a mixed ethnic background, about half a month behind
Bangladeshi and Pakistani children lowest vocabulary scores, with averages around 35, characteristic of the lowest tenth in the population at large

26. Prenatal exposures have long-term effects
PRENATAL STRESS
Alcohol
Nutrition
Cigarette smoke
Breastfeeding
BIRTH WEIGHT/GESTATION
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Mental health/behaviour
IQ and education
Reproductive health
Social status (marriage)
Birth weight of next generation
Health-related behaviours

27. Postnatal exposures have long-term effects
Poor attachment
Maternal depression
Breastfeeding
Poor parenting
Failure to thrive
Mental health/behaviour
IQ and education
Social mobility
Health-related behaviours

28. A two stage process: parental experiences of inequality shape child development
Parenting styles prepare children for the kind of social relations they may have to deal with in adulthood
Preparation for a society dependent on:-
trust, cooperation, reciprocity, empathy?
or:
fending for yourself, not trusting others?

29. Inequality and Child Wellbeing (UNICEF Rpt 2013)
Low Income Inequality (Gini) High
Child Wellbeing
Inequality and Child Wellbeing (UNICEF Rpt 2013)
Pickett & Wilkinson, Pediatrics. (forthcoming)

30. Changes in inequality and child wellbeing (UNICEF Index)
Child wellbeing Change
Inequality change (gini)
Pickett & Wilkinson, Pediatrics. (forthcoming)