Anthony F. Heath is the Director of the Centre for Social Investigation, Nuffield College, University of Oxford. His publications include The Political Integration of Ethnic Minorities in Britain (with Stephen D. Fisher, Gemma Rosenblatt, David Sanders, and Maria Sobolewska, OUP, 2013), Hard Times: Inequality, Recession, Aftermath (with Tom Clark, Yale University Press, 2015), and Unequal Attainments: Ethnic Educational Inequalities in Ten Western Countries (co-edited with Yael Brimbaum, Proceedings of the British Academy, OUP, 2014).
This book, by one of the worldas most respected social scientists, makes a powerful, evidence-based contribution to our understanding of the path that Britain has taken since Beveridge. This thoughtful analysis should be read by anyone who has an interest in the impact that policy has on tackling social inequalities, a desire to avoid the ideologically-driven or politically correct mistakes of the past, or a commitment to a fairer and more cohesive Britain. * Ray Shostak, formerly Head of the Prime Ministeras Delivery Unit. * For decades Anthony Heath has challenged the cosy assumptions about Britain steadily becoming a fairer place for all to live and prosper in. His meticulous and unbiased research and analysis in this book shows that on key social performance indicators like life expectancy or racial discrimination, we are failing to fix disadvantage. We must all sit up, learn, and act on change. * Iqbal Wahhab, Chair, National Independent Advisory Group, Action on Race Equality in the Criminal Justice System * Social Progress in Britain should be compulsory reading for all policymakers, indeed for anyone who want better to understand the trends in and drivers of social progress. Anthony Heath and his excellent co-authors at the Centre for Social Investigation bring out the facts clearly, compelling and, perhaps, counter-intuitively showing that though major challenges remain, social progress in Britain has generally kept up with that in other countries. * Stephen Aldridge, Director for Analysis and Data, Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government *