Inequality is much more than a moral issue. The evidence accumulates that inequality does a range of damages to a society, and to all members of society.
In their book The Spirit Level, authors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett illustrate how excessive inequality results in unhealthy societies characterized by higher rates of violent crime, drug abuse, mental illness and other social ills. The United States, by far the most unequal of the advanced countries, exemplifies this with its high rates of the full range of social problems.
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz confirms Wilkinson and Pickett in his book The Price of Inequality, explaining that moneyed interests have made the U.S. the most unequal advanced industrial country while undermining democracy.
A recent study carried out by researchers at King’s College London, Harvard University, and the University of York and published in the journal Nature Mental Health, llinks greater inequality to structural changes in children’s brains. The scientists said the effect is independent of economic background—the rich are affected as well as the poor.
The study included 10,000 young people in 17 American states using data gathered from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. To determine relative inequality between states the scientists used the Gini coefficient, a standard statistical measure used to represent income inequality within countries or social groups.
They then analyzed MRI scans to study the surface area and thickness of regions in the cortex, including those involved in higher cognitive functions such as memory, emotion, attention and language. The scans showed that children from states with higher income inequality showed, on average, lower surface area and thickness and altered connections across widespread regions in their brains.
The researchers also analyzed data from questionnaires taken by the children in order to determine mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. They found that mental health outcomes were significantly worse for those who lived in societies with higher levels of wealth inequality.
The adverse effects of inequality were attributed by the researchers largely to chronic stress. “Communities with high levels of inequality tend to experience greater segregation, reduced civic participation and weaker social networks, all of which can amplify feelings of isolation and mistrust, contributing to the maintenance or exacerbation of chronic stress.”
In other words, inequality creates a toxic social environment that harms the shaping of young minds. Professor Kate Pickett of the University of York, a co-author of the study, said, “Our paper emphasizes that reducing inequality isn’t just about economics—it’s a public health imperative.”
The study participants concluded, “Addressing inequality at the societal level is essential to fostering environments that support healthy neurodevelopment and mental wellbeing for all children.”
Inequality was long considered just a matter of a fair society, an equitable distribution of a society’s wealth. Science is showing that it’s a matter of society’s health as well as its wealth, starting with the health of children’s minds.
Canadians have worked since Confederation to create a more equitable society and we have largely succeeded. Unfortunately, since the pandemic we have begun to lose ground. According to Statistics Canada, income inequality hit a record high in early 2025. High-income households gained in income from rising wages and investments while low-income households have seen their disposable incomes decline. Social-assistance programs have not kept up with the needs of low-income individuals while the tax system has become more regressive.
The resulting income and wealth inequality pose significant risks to our economic stability and social cohesion. We obviously need at least one political party particularly committed to dealing with this challenge. We still very much need the NDP.