Drivers of Wellbeing Inequality

This research builds on our previous report Measuring wellbeing inequalities in Britain, diving into one aspect of wellbeing inequality – inequality in life satisfaction – to determine what drives it at a local level. Our research question was: What is associated with inequality in life satisfaction in local authorities in Britain? This briefing outlines the main findings from this research. Further information, including methodology and data sources, is available in the full research paper.

While researchers have often compared the average wellbeing of different demographic groups, the study of the level of wellbeing inequality in a place remains largely underdeveloped.

Our previous paper, Measuring Wellbeing Inequality in Britain, began with the question ‘what is wellbeing inequality?’ and used ONS Annual Population Survey data to explore which parts of the United Kingdom have higher or lower levels of wellbeing inequality.

This research builds on that work, diving into one aspect of wellbeing inequality – inequality in life satisfaction – to determine what drives it at a local level. Our research question was:

What is associated with inequality in life satisfaction in local authorities in Britain?

This briefing outlines the main findings from this research. Further information, including methodology and data sources, is available in the full research paper.

1. Deprivation, median income and unemployment are all associated with higher wellbeing inequality at the local authority level.
2. Although more rural areas have higher average wellbeing, this does not translate into lower wellbeing inequality as might be expected. When controlling for average wellbeing, rurality is associated with higher wellbeing inequality. Our analysis indicates that this might be due to higher impacts of unemployment in rural areas.
3. Higher levels of engagement in heritage activities and the use of green space for health or exercise is associated with lower wellbeing inequality in local authorities, even though increased engagement in these activities is not associated with improved average wellbeing.
4. Higher female, but not male, life expectancy in local authority populations is associated with lower wellbeing inequality.

For more analysis download the briefing and full report.