Inequality and Poverty: How can social sciences make a difference?

Inequality touches every aspect of our societies and affects every single person on the planet, from those struggling with low incomes and limited opportunities (whether in the Global South or in developed countries), to those who benefit from current systems and structures.

From economic and structural inequality to gender and race inequality: all these aspects of the issue are interdependent. Social sciences researchers at the University of Oxford are producing some of the best research in the world to inform impactful policy interventions to tackle these urgent global challenges. Watch our film, Inequality and Poverty, to find out more.

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Researcher profiles

Meet more of our world-leading researchers on the themes of inequality and poverty through the research projects and programmes listed below, or - if you are a journalist looking for an Oxford social scientist to provide expert comment on the themes of inequality and poverty - explore Oxford's Find An Expert tool, which offers journalists quick and easy access to academics who may be able to help.

Research projects and programmes across the Social Sciences Division

Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)

A research centre working on the multidimensional measurement of poverty and wellbeing to help guide effective policymaking around the world

Young Lives

A unique longitudinal study of poverty and inequality following the lives of 12,000 children in Ethiopia, India (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), Peru and Vietnam since 2002.

Intersectional and Gender Inequalities research cluster

Exploring how social processes and power relations affect what meanings, values and norms are acquired across societies and time

Centre for Global Higher Education

Conducts research on global higher education, its inequalities and its futures.

Rees Centre

Produces research and evidence that enables practitioners, policymakers and the research community to understand and improve children's social care and education.

Information Geography and Inequality

Questions of equality and social justice are as important as ever in the information age. Do Internet technologies give rise to radical social change, or do they just reproduce existing social and economic divisions and relationships?

Interdisciplinary hub to promote developmental recovery for infants

What Works Hub for Global Education

An international partnership working out how to implement education reforms at scale, with the ultimate goal of increasing literacy, numeracy and other key skills in low- and middle-income countries.

INET Economics, Inequality and Opportunity Programme

This research programme seeks to understand the drivers and implications of economic inequality across rich countries and what is required to produce better, fairer growth and opportunity.

100 Million Initiative

Working with governments, development banks, foundations, social enterprises, a global network of academic partners, and the private sector to improve water security for 100 million people by 2030.

Accelerate Hub

An interdisciplinary research hub working with adolescents, policymakers, and NGOs to identify evidence-driven “accelerators” that can improve the lives of children and adolescents in resource-limited settings.