Richard G. Wilkinson

Richard Gerald Wilkinson (born 1943) is a British social epidemiologist, writer, advocate, and left-wing political activist. He is Professor Emeritus of social epidemiology at the University of Nottingham. He retired in 2008. He is also Honorary Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London and Visiting Professor at University of York. In 2009, Richard co-founded The Equality Trust. Richard was awarded a 2013 Silver Rose Award from Solidar for championing equality and the 2014 Charles Cully Memorial Medal by the Irish Cancer Society.

In 1976, his article entitled 'Dear David Ennals' was published in New Society; at that time, David Ennals was Secretary of State for Social Services. The article led eventually to the 1980 publication of the Black Report on Inequalities in Health.

He is best known for his book with his partner Kate Pickett The Spirit Level, first published in 2009, which argues that societies with more equal distribution of incomes have better health, fewer social problems such as violence, drug abuse, teenage births, mental illness, obesity, and others, and are more cohesive than ones in which the gap between the rich and poor is greater. In 2009 they started the Equality Trust, which campaigns for greater income equality.

Books

• Wilkinson, Richard G. (1973). Poverty and progress: an ecological model of economic development. London: Methuen. ISBN 9780416776003.
• Wilkinson, Richard G. (1986). Class and health: research and longitudinal data. London New York: Tavistock Publications. ISBN 9780422603607.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Quick, Allison (1991). Income and health. London: Socialist Health Association. ISBN 9780900687174. Associated conference, November 1992
• Wilkinson, Richard G. (1994). Unfair shares: the effects of widening income differences on the welfare of the young. Ilford: Barnardos. ISBN 9780902046160.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Blane, David; Brunner, Eric (1996). Health and social organization: towards a health policy for the twenty-first century. London New York: Routledge. ISBN 9780415130707.
• Wilkinson, Richard (1996). Unhealthy societies: the afflictions of inequality. London New York: Routledge. ISBN 9780415092357.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Kawachi, Ichirō; Kennedy, Bruce P. (1999). The society and population health reader (volume 1). New York: New Press Distributed by W.W. Norton. ISBN 9781565845268.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Marmot, Michael (2006) [1999]. Social determinants of health (2nd ed.). Oxford New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198565895.
• Wilkinson, Richard G. (2001). Mind the gap: hierarchies, health and human evolution. Darwinism Today. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300089530.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Marmot, Michael (2003). The solid facts. Copenhagen: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. ISBN 9780585492520.
• Wilkinson, Richard G. (2005). The impact of inequality: how to make sick societies healthier. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415372695.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Pickett, Kate E. (2008). Health and inequality: Major themes in health and social welfare. Abingdon, Oxon, UK New York City: Routledge. ISBN 9780415443135. Four volume set.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Pickett, Kate E. (2009). The spirit level: why more equal societies almost always do better. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 9781846140396.
  • Adapted as the 2016 documentary film The Divide. Wilkinson and Pickett each appear as commentators.
• Wilkinson, Richard G.; Pickett, Kate E. (2019). The Inner Level: How More Equal Societies Reduce Stress, Restore Sanity and Improve Everyone's Well-Being. Penguin Press. ISBN 9780525561224.