Building on last year’s report Bridging the Gap, this research project will explore what Christian theology can contribute to the conversation about economic inequality.

Economic inequality is one of the pressing issues of our times.

Both nationally and globally, the gap between the richest and the poorest has grown in recent decades, with the UK having one of the highest levels of income inequality in Europe even before the Covid–19 pandemic.

Inequalities in wealth, income and access to the basic necessities of life all have profound consequences, for society and the relationships within it as well as for individuals. Much has been written on the social and political implications of this, and the potential of economic policy to address it, and it is no longer seen as a partisan political issue.

As Simon Perfect acknowledged in the previous Theos report Bridging The Gap (2020), ‘there are signs of growing convergence among people across the political spectrum in the UK that today’s levels of economic inequality are indeed a problem, even if there is not agreement about what to do about it’.

However, we believe that tracing the development of theological thinking about economic inequality, from the Church Fathers to contemporary theologians, might offer a new perspective on the distribution of economic resources.

From Leviticus to liberation theology, the Christian tradition has long considered the issue and has much to say about how we might tackle it.

Building on Bridging the Gap, this research project will explore what Christian theology can contribute to the conversation about economic inequality. It aims to build a consensus across political perspectives on how we might pursue a more equal world.

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