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IEA - Liz Truss is right to focus on equality of opportunity, rather than equality of outcome

Professor Len Shackleton, Editorial and Research Fellow at the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said ahead of Women and Equalities Minister Liz Truss’ speech today

“Liz Truss is right to focus on equality of opportunity and on the life chances of all our people, rather than excessive emphasis on equality of outcome for groups with very different characteristics.

“No conceivable policy measures can ensure all groups will end up with the same incomes and fill roles in society in exactly the same proportions. What a focus on outcomes does is set group against group and lead to policies which are ineffective and often damaging. This in turn produces more animosity.

“Improvements to educational choice and the dismantling of barriers to social mobility, such as housing policy and excessive occupational licensing, should be priorities.”

Notes to editors

For media enquiries, please contact Emily Carver, Head of Media, on 07715942731 or ecarver@iea.org.uk.

IEA spokespeople are available for further comment and interview.

For further IEA reading on equalities, click here.

The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.

Original article link: https://iea.org.uk/media/liz-truss-is-right-to-focus-on-equality-of-opportunity-rather-than-equality-of-outcome/

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