Kate Pickett
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profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett
@profkepickett.bsky.social
760 followers 110 following 58 posts

Social epidemiologist, co-author of 'The Spirit Level' and 'The Inner Level' and co-founder of The Equality Trust

www.wilkinsonpickett.com

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Kate Elizabeth Pickett is a British epidemiologist and political activist who is Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, and was a National Institute for Health and Care Research Career Scientist from 2007 to 2012. She co-authored The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better and is a co-founder of The Equality Trust. Pickett was awarded a 2013 Silver Rose Award from Solidar for championing equality and the 2014 Charles Cully Memorial Medal by the Irish Cancer Society. .. more

Public Health 36%
Psychology 21%
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profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · 21h
If you're in York or nearby this week, please come and join me on Friday to talk about how we build a good society:

www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
The Good Society
Join the University of York, Compass and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on Friday 20 February as we partner for the launch of Professor Kate Pickett’s new book.
www.york.ac.uk

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · 2d
From my colleague, Professor Martin O'Neill:
John Rawls and the High Court Judgement on Palestine Action open.substack.com/pub/martinon...
On John Rawls, and the High Court Judgement on Palestine Action
Civil disobedience, basic liberties and Yvette Cooper's violation of the basic preconditions for a democratic society
open.substack.com

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

lseinequalities.bsky.social
LSE Inequalities @lseinequalities.bsky.social · 5d
Talk of building a good society is often met with the charge of utopianism. But this is wrong, argues @profkepickett.bsky.social of @equalitytrust.bsky.social.

The blueprint for a fairer society lies in front of us – but it requires moving away from “trickle-down” economics

#LSEInequalitiesBlog
Why my vision of a Good Society is evidence-based, not utopian
We have a choice about the kind of society that we build. A fairer, more prosperous society is possible, but requires moving away from “trickle-down” economics.
blogs.lse.ac.uk

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

andrewcopson.bsky.social
Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 7d
Looking forward to reading the newest book by @humanists.uk patron @profkepickett.bsky.social. A masterclass in how evidence-based policy can address chronic inequality in the UK, I'm sure!
‘I think we feel stuck’: Kate Pickett on how to build a better, fairer, less stressed society
In her new book, the co-author of The Spirit Level gathers jaw-dropping facts about the inequality crisis in the UK – and explores creative ways to address it
www.theguardian.com

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · 11d
Thank you, Club of Rome, for publishing my blog post today!
clubofrome.org Club of Rome @clubofrome.org · 11d
In The Good Society: And How We Make It, Kate Pickett, member of the Club of Rome and the @earth4all.life.life Transformational Economics Commission, argues that inequality is not just an economic issue, but a root cause of our social, health and environmental crises ➡️ vist.ly/4qf9s
A public square scene with people walking and children playing as large soap bubbles float through the air. Overlaid text reads: “A good society is not a distant dream. It is a choice we can make by deciding that the wellbeing of the many outweighs the wealth extraction of the few.” The quote is attributed to Kate Pickett, member of the Club of Rome and the Earth4All Transformational Economics Commission, and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of York.

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

clubofrome.org
Club of Rome @clubofrome.org · 11d
In The Good Society: And How We Make It, Kate Pickett, member of the Club of Rome and the @earth4all.life.life Transformational Economics Commission, argues that inequality is not just an economic issue, but a root cause of our social, health and environmental crises ➡️ vist.ly/4qf9s
A public square scene with people walking and children playing as large soap bubbles float through the air. Overlaid text reads: “A good society is not a distant dream. It is a choice we can make by deciding that the wellbeing of the many outweighs the wealth extraction of the few.” The quote is attributed to Kate Pickett, member of the Club of Rome and the Earth4All Transformational Economics Commission, and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of York.

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · 14d
Really pleased to be non-fiction Book of the Month in the Independent: www.independent.co.uk/arts-enterta...
What to read this February, including a guide to building a better society
Martin Chilton shares his reading highlights for February
www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

earth4all.life
Earth4All @earth4all.life · 21d
It's #ReclaimTheEconomyWeek! Around the world, people are coming together to demand an economy that puts people and planet first - and showing how it's already being done.

Sign the petition calling on leaders to redesign our economies to put people and planet at the centre: vist.ly/4p5xr

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

fairness.bsky.social
Fairness Foundation @fairness.bsky.social · Jan 7
Fairness isn’t just a moral ideal. It is one of the civic conditions that makes collective life possible. A guest article by @emekaforbes.bsky.social
Fairness is key to a more cohesive Britain
Fairness isn’t just a moral ideal. It is one of the civic conditions that makes collective life possible.
www.faircomment.co.uk

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett, Danny Dorling

inequalitynews.bsky.social
Inequality News @inequalitynews.bsky.social · Dec 24
📢 THANK YOU for your support this year ♥️ Below is a reminder of the gross #inequality that ruins the UK every day. Figures are based on the High Pay Centre’s findings that, in 2024/25, the AVERAGE FTSE 100 CEO gouged a “salary” of £4,580,000. Divide by 365 and you get a daily pay out of £12,548 🤮🤮🤮
A vertical bar graph showing FTSE 100 CEOs grabbing £150,576 almost 4 times the average annual wage (£39,039) over the 12 Days of Christmas.

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Dec 5
Just opened a big box of proof copies of my new book, available 5 Feb 2026, and can be pre-ordered from all good booksellers!

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Dec 4
Proof copies of my new book. Publication is 05 Feb 2026. Available to preorder at all good book sellers!

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 27
Well done @equalitytrust.bsky.social ! Great analysis and report
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
Equality Trust study shows how House of Lords appointments, big donations and media ownership affect political decisions
www.theguardian.com

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 27
I've worked so hard with so many good colleagues towards this goal. But always more to do, so onwards
healthequitynorth.bsky.social Health Equity North @healthequitynorth.bsky.social · Nov 27
The two-child cap, ended in the recent Budget, punished children & deepened poverty. We have pushed for its removal with research, @childofthenorth.bsky.social APPG meetings & political engagement. This is a great step, but the fight's not over.

www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f...

Reposted by Danny Dorling

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 27
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

healthequitynorth.bsky.social
Health Equity North @healthequitynorth.bsky.social · Nov 27
The two-child cap, ended in the recent Budget, punished children & deepened poverty. We have pushed for its removal with research, @childofthenorth.bsky.social APPG meetings & political engagement. This is a great step, but the fight's not over.

www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f...

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

childofthenorth.bsky.social
Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · Nov 26
For families who have struggled under the two-child restriction, today’s #Budget announcement offers them the chance to build a life free from poverty and deprivation.

Child of the North APPG Chair @emmalewellmp.bsky.social issued a statement on the news www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f...

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett, Luke Munford

healthequitynorth.bsky.social
Health Equity North @healthequitynorth.bsky.social · Nov 26
The two-child cap will be removed from April! We have campaigned for years to end this unjust policy – through evidence, advocacy & collaboration. Half a million children will be immediately lifted from poverty as a result. Read our reaction 👇
www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f...
1/2 #Budget

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett, Luke Munford

debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social
Debbie Abrahams MP @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social · Nov 20
It was a pleasure to welcome @profbambra.bsky.social (newcastleuni.bsky.social), @lukemunford.bsky.social (@manchester.ac.uk) to Parliament yesterday.

As part of #HealthEquityNorth the #CommonsWorkandPensions commissioned them to analyse what savings could be generated from new #EmploymentSupport
Debbie Abrahams MP at the Health Equity North drop-in Health Equity North drop-in Debbie Abrahams MP at the Health Equity North drop-in Health Equity North drop-in

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 20
More on the Ten Principles of new economic thinking:
Why the UK should look beyond growth to a ‘new economics’ that works for all theconversation.com/why-the-uk-s...
Why the UK should look beyond growth to a ‘new economics’ that works for all
Traditional economics can’t respond to global crises like inequality and climate change.
theconversation.com

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 18
My new column: Are We Humans or Homo Economicus? Why Economics Needs to Evolve Beyond Growth www.socialeurope.eu/are-we-human...
Are We Humans or Homo Economicus? Why Economics Needs to Evolve Beyond Growth
Economics assumes we behave like chimps, but humans are far more cooperative—and our economic models must catch up.
www.socialeurope.eu

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 17
Reposting with new link: www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 17
Proud to have signed letter from 600+ economists & inequality experts from 70 countries supporting the call for a new Independent Panel on Inequality- an Inequality IPCC- to tackle the inequality emergency- G20 leaders must support this. #G20SouthAfrica www.independent.co.uk/news/south-a...
Top economists call on world leaders to set up an international panel on inequality
Hundreds of top economists and other experts including former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen are calling for the world to set up an independent international panel on income and wealth inequalit...
www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

equalitytrust.bsky.social
Equality Trust @equalitytrust.bsky.social · Nov 11
Doing all this popular and fair stuff to tax the rich would be great on its own terms, but it could also help allow real investment in our future – and that pays dividends. Plus you get a better society out of it. Everyone wins, including the richest!
Taxing the rich to help build social homes could save £4.5bn in housing benefit and £3.3bn in universal credit; for everyone £100 spent on community spare there is a 31% return on investment, and the two-child benefit cap causes child poverty that costs the state £3.2bn every year. Investing in people pays!

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

equalitytrust.bsky.social
Equality Trust @equalitytrust.bsky.social · Nov 11
Did the richest work harder to win their explosion of wealth? No! The cost of living crisis allowed banks, energy companies, water companies, supermarkets and more to do absolutely nothing and watch their profits soar off our higher bills. Taxing the richest would be about taking our wealth back.
Infographic explaining why taxing the rich is justified, highlighting £24.1 billion bank profits, £30 billion energy profits, and water bills funding private debt.

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

equalitytrust.bsky.social
Equality Trust @equalitytrust.bsky.social · Nov 11
Our tax system hugely favours the wealthiest. Taxes on income from work are much higher than passive income from wealth, allowing millionaires to pay effective tax rates that are half what the rest of us pay. Taxing the richest would make that system much fairer.
A graph showing the proportion of income paid in tax by the poorest 10% and the richest 10% in the UK. The proportion paid by the poorest 10% is consistently higher by about 10 percentage points from 2016 to 2024

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

equalitytrust.bsky.social
Equality Trust @equalitytrust.bsky.social · Nov 11
Homelessness, foodbank use, and child poverty have all been growing alongside the wealth of the super rich. These things are two sides of the same coin: inequality is undermining our ability to provide for everyone.
A graph showing UK billionaire wealth rising from £200bn to £650bn from 2010 to 2024. Over the same period, foodbank use increases from almost nothing in 2010 to a spike around 2015 of over 1mn, then continues to rocket up to over 3mn by 2024

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

equalitytrust.bsky.social
Equality Trust @equalitytrust.bsky.social · Nov 11
Taxing the rich could raise billions in the next budget – but that's far from the only reason to do it. Taxing the richest is popular, fair, and necessary to start making society more equal and our economy work better for everyone. Here's why:
Infographic explaining how taxing the rich can raise billions through closing tax loopholes and wealth taxes. Key points include £24bn from a wealth tax, £15bn from bank windfall taxes, £14bn a year from equalising capital gains taxes, and other loopholes and subsidies for polluters.

profkepickett.bsky.social
Kate Pickett @profkepickett.bsky.social · Nov 6
I was pleased to contribute to the work of the G20 Commission on wealth inequality led by Joseph Stiglitz: g20.org/resources/docu…
Help support the call for a new international agency to monitor inequality!
https://g20.org/resources/docu…

Reposted by Kate E. Pickett

childofthenorth.bsky.social
Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · Sep 24
Academic Co-Director of @healthequitynorth.bsky.social @profkepickett.bsky.social will be speaking at our #ChildOfTheNorth panel event at #LabourPartyConference next week, touching on the regional inequalities young people are facing www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/addressing...