Striking chart from @TheIFS on the families - poorest to richest - that would choose to send their children back to school.
We know poorer children are losing out most on education, and poorer families have less space, so you might think this chart is surprising?
We know poorer children are losing out most on education, and poorer families have less space, so you might think this chart is surprising?
The survey doesn't gather data on *why* families answer thus. But the answers should inform what is already the major Left/Right faultline on the pandemic response: how much 'choice' should we give individuals about how to respond to coronavirus risks?
I suspect two things are going on.
One is that those who experience their socio economic environment - employer, the State, their bank, healthcare - as supportive and responsive feel more relaxed about risks because they feel themselves to have more ability to ride them.
One is that those who experience their socio economic environment - employer, the State, their bank, healthcare - as supportive and responsive feel more relaxed about risks because they feel themselves to have more ability to ride them.
The other is that the group which is relaxed about risks is also the group that has real choices, which the State constrains or does not constrain.
But what for the richer are choices can in practice for the poorer be compulsions (in particular around whether and how to work).
But what for the richer are choices can in practice for the poorer be compulsions (in particular around whether and how to work).
Seems to me, if we want to respond intelligently to a world of which heightened risk is a medium-term or permanent feature, we need to recognise, in arguing for or against personal choice and responsibility, where people not like us have real agency. #CheckYourPrivilege
(@TheIFS paper is here ifs.org.uk/publications/1… and really is worth a read).
