COVID-19 and Inequalities
British Academy
The British Academy’s Shape the Future programme examines the societal, economic and cultural implications of the pandemic. It brings cross-disciplinary research and expertise to inform policy and visionary research agendas moving forward. Activities and products of this programme have included workshops, publications and other media that examine how pre-existing economic, racial and gender divides have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 2021
“With the advent of vaccines and the imminent ending of lockdowns, we might think that the impact of COVID-19 is coming to an end. This would be wrong. We are in a COVID decade: the social, economic and cultural effects of the pandemic will cast a long shadow into the future – perhaps longer than a decade – and the sooner we begin to understand, the better placed we will be to address them.”
Asked by the UK Government Office for Science to produce an independent review of the long-term societal impacts of COVID-19, the British Academy produced a report demonstrating how the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and created new ones. It presents evidence concerning three areas of societal effect – health and wellbeing; communities, culture and belonging; and knowledge, employment and skills – to identify 9 areas of long-term impact, ranging from rising unemployment to greater distrust in the government.
A companion report, Shaping the COVID Decade: addressing the long-term societal impacts of COVID-19, draws on the evidence gathered to outline key policy goals and principles to be used as a framework for a successful recovery by 2030.
Learn more about the evidence used to inform the policy areas and cross-cutting themes addressed in the reports.
WORKSHOP SUMMARY
What factors make a community more vulnerable to COVID-19?
November 2020 | Dominic Abrams, David J Hand, Anthony Heath, Saffron Karlsen, Melinda Mills, James Nazroo, Lindsay Richards, Charlotte Roberts and Centre for Homelessness Impact
"We need to better understand the social dynamics linking medical, social, and economic factors and social resilience in communities, taking a longer view."
During a July 2020 workshop, convened by the British Academy and chaired by British Academy Fellow Sir Ian Diamond, participants discussed how existing structural and health inequalities have made certain communities more vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. A range of disciplinary experts stressed the importance of localized evidence, analysis, leadership and capacity-building to adequately address the social dynamics and structures involved in community vulnerability.
RECORDED TALK
The British Academy 10-Minute Talks: COVID-19 and Inequalities
September 2020 | Fiona Williams
As part of the British Academy’s series of 10-Minute Talks, Professor Fiona Williams, a sociologist and British Academy Fellow, discussed ways in which COVID-19 has amplified existing inequalities and created new insecurities.
PUBLICATION
COVID-19 Crisis: Lessons for Recovery
July 2020 | Roger Few, Vasudha Chhotray, Mark Tebboth, Johanna Forster, Carole White, Teresa Armijos and Clare Shelton
"As in all disasters, there are much greater numbers of people affected by the crisis than physically harmed by the hazard (in this case a biological hazard - the outbreak of a virus). And, as in all disasters, these impacts do not fall evenly."
Drawing from research on other major disasters and historical crisis situations in Latin America, the Caribbean, East Africa and South Asia, this document provides eight lessons for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic under umbrellas of ‘Managing a prolonged crisis’, ‘Planning for complexity’, ‘Establishing priorities for recovery’ and ‘Building capacities’. The authors give special attention to managing the long-term implications in lower and middle-income countries, where more widespread poverty and structurally weaker support capacity often present added challenges for recovery.
Additional Resources
POLICY BRIEF
UN/DESA Policy Brief: Responses to the COVID-19 catastrophe could turn the tide on inequality
May 2020
This brief by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs identifies inequalities surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and makes recommendations for responsive action.
VARIOUS MEDIA
UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Through news, infographics, fact sheets, and other media, learn more about United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 and global efforts to mitigate inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.