Implementing the Socio-Economic Duty:
My Insights From Wales
Did you know that England has not yet implimented the Socio-Economic Duty? Yet both Scotland and Wales have! Looking ahead, the Governm,mnet have launched a consultation and evidence gathering whereby arguments in favour of the Governmnet enactin the Socio-Economic Duty can be voiced (please fill this in)!
In this recent webinar hosted by The Equality Trust in collaboration with both Prof Richard Wilkinson and Dr Lee Gregory from Academics Stand Against Poverty UK (ASAP UK), We delved into the socio-economic duty and its impact on public policymaking. As someone deeply passionate about reducing socio-economic inequalities, I wanted to share some key takeaways from my talk.
What’s the Socio-Economic Duty All About? First off, let’s break down what the socio-economic duty is. Essentially, it’s a legal clause that requires public bodies to consider how their decisions can help reduce inequalities linked to socio-economic disadvantage. It’s about making sure that policies are designed with an eye towards fairness and equity.
Richard kicked things off with an updated discussion about his groundbreaking work on The Spirit Level (and the Inner Level), and Vanessa Boon of the Equality Trust provided a substantial history of the Socio-Economic Duty. Then as Lee Gregory discussed - The socio-economic duty has been around for a while, but its journey through legislation has been quite the ride. Understanding the legal framework is crucial because it underscores why this duty is so important for promoting social justice.
The Hurdles We Face: Of course, implementing this duty isn’t without its challenges. I talked about some of the common obstacles, like a lack of awareness and insufficient training. There’s also a bit of resistance to change within institutions, which can slow things down, especially so in England.
Making It Work: So, how do we overcome these hurdles? We suggested a few strategies. Comprehensive training programs for policymakers and public officials are a must. We need to ensure that socio-economic considerations are integrated into every stage of policymaking, from planning to execution.
Success Stories: To show that it’s not all theory, I shared some success stories. In Wales, for example, where the socio-economic duty has been effectively implemented, we’ve seen some limited improvements in reducing disparities. These case studies are proof that targeted policies can make a real difference.
Looking Ahead: Finally, I wrapped up with some thoughts on the future. There’s still a lot of work to be done, and I provided some policy recommendations to help strengthen the implementation of the socio-economic duty. We need to keep expanding its scope to tackle emerging challenges.
Wrapping Up: My insights during the webinar highlighted the critical role of the socio-economic duty in fostering a more equitable society. I hope these points offer a valuable guide for anyone committed to reducing socio-economic inequalities.