Out Of Print... Some inequalities between people may be inevitable, but that does not mean that the present pattern of inequalities should be preserved. Richard Berthoud draws together evidence about the whole range of deprivation-in income, housing, education, health, employment, and the environment-whicn, are suffered by disadvantaged groups. It soon becomes clear that, whatever the particular deprivation, it s always the same people who are at risk. This study challenges those who seek an explanation for deprivation either solely in terms of the personal characteristics of the individual, or solely in terms of the circumstances in which the individual finds himself. The author suggests that a determined policy to improve the opportunities of disadvantaged groups would result in a narrowing of the gap between prosperity and deprivation, without undermining the operation of a free economy. For more than forty years, PEP (Political and Economic Planning) has had an established reputation as an independent, policy orientated, research institute, with the chief aim of contributing to better planning and policy making, in both economic and social affairs. The research for this book was sponsored by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.