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CASE Social Exclusion Seminars

Local economic inequality and household borrowing in the UK

Dr Joel Suss (Bank of England; CASE and International Inequalities Institute, LSE visiting fellow)

Wednesday 07 June 2023 12:00 - 13:00


This event is both online and in person

SAL 3.05, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Sir Arthur Lewis Building, LSE, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PH


About this event

This seminar focuses on research which investigates the relationship between economic inequality and household borrowing using the UK's Wealth and Assets Survey data and granular, neighbourhood-level estimates of inequality. Using this unique data, it is evident that lower income households borrow more and are under greater financial distress, both objectively and subjectively, when local inequality is higher. There is evidence that this result is driven by the demand side - in line with social comparison theories of household spending and consumption behaviour, demand for credit is greater for lower income households in areas with greater inequality.

These seminars are held on Wednesdays in term time at 12:00-13:00

Seminars this year will continue as in person or as hybrid (online and in person) events. Please check our website listings and Twitter feed @CASE_LSE for updates.

This seminar series is organised by:

Laura Lane, Email: l.lane@lse.ac.uk

Dr Abigail McKnight, Email: abigail.mcknight@lse.ac.uk

For further information and papers, when available, please contact:

The CASE team Email: case@lse.ac.uk.