Start Here
/start-here
- How to Use This Website
- Understanding Society in 30 Minutes
- Key Terms Explained
- Suggested Learning Paths
Section 1. Understanding Society
Purpose: Understand how the UK works today.
The UK Economy
The UK Budget
/understanding-society/uk-budget
Where Government Money Comes From
/understanding-society/government-revenue
Where Government Money Goes
/understanding-society/government-spending
Deficit vs Debt
/understanding-society/deficit-and-debt
Government Borrowing and Bonds
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How Taxes Work
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Income Tax Explained
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National Insurance Explained
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VAT Explained
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Corporation Tax Explained
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The Economy
What Is GDP?
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Economic Growth
/understanding-society/economic-growth
Inflation Explained
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Interest Rates Explained
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Productivity
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Recessions
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International Trade
/understanding-society/international-trade
Banking and Money
/understanding-society/banking
The Bank of England
/understanding-society/bank-of-england
Work and Living Standards
Employment
/understanding-society/employment
Wages and Salaries
/understanding-society/wages
Minimum Wage
/understanding-society/minimum-wage
Cost of Living
/understanding-society/cost-of-living
Student Loans
/understanding-society/student-loans
Social Mobility
/understanding-society/social-mobility
Society & Demographics
UK Population
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Ageing Population
/understanding-society/ageing-population
Immigration
/understanding-society/immigration
Housing
/understanding-society/housing
Welfare
/understanding-society/welfare
Pensions
/understanding-society/pensions
Healthcare
/understanding-society/healthcare
Education
/understanding-society/education
Politics Explained
How Parliament Works
/understanding-society/parliament
The House of Commons
/understanding-society/house-of-commons
The House of Lords
/understanding-society/house-of-lords
The Prime Minister
/understanding-society/prime-minister
Elections
/understanding-society/elections
Political Parties
/understanding-society/political-parties
Devolution
/understanding-society/devolution
Section 2: What Is A Fair Society?
Purpose: Explore values, philosophy and human wellbeing.
Foundations
What Is Fairness?
/fair-society/fairness
What Is Justice?
/fair-society/justice
Equality of Opportunity
/fair-society/equality-of-opportunity
Equality of Outcome
/fair-society/equality-of-outcome
Freedom and Responsibility
/fair-society/freedom-and-responsibility
Rights and Obligations
/fair-society/rights-and-obligations
Happiness & Meaning
What Is Happiness?
/fair-society/happiness
What Makes a Good Life?
/fair-society/good-life
Success and Achievement
/fair-society/success
Mental Health and Society
/fair-society/mental-health
Loneliness and Community
/fair-society/loneliness
Purpose and Meaning
/fair-society/purpose
Great Thinkers
Aristotle
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Adam Smith
/fair-society/adam-smith
Karl Marx
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John Stuart Mill
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John Rawls
/fair-society/john-rawls
Amartya Sen
/fair-society/amartya-sen
What Can We Learn From Each?
/fair-society/lessons-from-philosophers
Section 3: Designing Better Systems
Purpose: Explore how society could be improved.
Tax & Government Reform
Alternative Tax Systems
/designing-better-systems/tax-systems
Wealth Taxes
/designing-better-systems/wealth-tax
Land Value Tax
/designing-better-systems/land-value-tax
Universal Basic Income
/designing-better-systems/universal-basic-income
Citizen’s Dividend
/designing-better-systems/citizens-dividend
Political Reform
Electoral Systems Compared
/designing-better-systems/electoral-systems
Proportional Representation
/designing-better-systems/proportional-representation
Citizen Assemblies
/designing-better-systems/citizen-assemblies
House of Lords Reform
/designing-better-systems/lords-reform
Housing Reform
Solving the Housing Crisis
/designing-better-systems/housing-crisis
Planning Reform
/designing-better-systems/planning-reform
Social Housing
/designing-better-systems/social-housing
Healthcare Reform
NHS Reform
/designing-better-systems/nhs-reform
Preventative Healthcare
/designing-better-systems/preventative-healthcare
Social Care Reform
/designing-better-systems/social-care-reform
Future Society
Artificial Intelligence
/designing-better-systems/artificial-intelligence
Automation and Work
/designing-better-systems/automation
Future of Education
/designing-better-systems/future-education
Future of Healthcare
/designing-better-systems/future-healthcare
Future of Retirement
/designing-better-systems/future-retirement
Section 4: International Comparisons
Purpose: Learn from other countries.
The Nordic Model
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Singapore
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Switzerland
/international-comparisons/switzerland
Germany
/international-comparisons/germany
Japan
/international-comparisons/japan
Canada
/international-comparisons/canada
Australia
/international-comparisons/australia
New Zealand
/international-comparisons/new-zealand
What Can The UK Learn?
/international-comparisons/what-can-the-uk-learn
Section 5: The Big Questions
Purpose: Apply economics, politics and philosophy to the biggest questions facing Britain.
Housing
Why Are Houses So Expensive?
/the-big-questions/houses-so-expensive
Will I Ever Be Able to Buy a Home?
/the-big-questions/buy-a-home
Why Is Rent So Expensive?
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Can the Housing Crisis Be Solved?
/the-big-questions/housing-crisis
Money and Living Standards
Why Does Everything Cost So Much?
/the-big-questions/cost-of-living
Why Don’t Wages Rise Faster?
/the-big-questions/stagnant-wages
Is University Still Worth It?
/the-big-questions/university-worth-it
Why Are Young People Struggling Financially?
/the-big-questions/young-people-finances
Health and Wellbeing
Can the NHS Survive?
/the-big-questions/can-the-nhs-survive
Why Is Mental Health Getting Worse?
/the-big-questions/mental-health
Are We Becoming More Lonely?
/the-big-questions/loneliness
What Makes People Happy?
/the-big-questions/what-makes-people-happy
Work and Technology
Will AI Take My Job?
/the-big-questions/ai-jobs
What Will Work Look Like in 2050?
/the-big-questions/future-of-work
Could We Have a Four-Day Week?
/the-big-questions/four-day-week
Will Automation Make Life Better?
/the-big-questions/automation
Population and Society
Is Immigration Good or Bad for Britain?
/the-big-questions/immigration
Can We Afford an Ageing Population?
/the-big-questions/ageing-population
Will State Pensions Still Exist?
/the-big-questions/state-pensions
Why Are People Having Fewer Children?
/the-big-questions/falling-birth-rates
Government and Politics
Can Taxes Be Lower?
/the-big-questions/lower-taxes
Should the Rich Pay More Tax?
/the-big-questions/taxing-the-rich
Is the National Debt a Problem?
/the-big-questions/national-debt
Can Politics Be Trusted?
/the-big-questions/trust-in-politics
Environment and the Future
Can We Stop Climate Change?
/the-big-questions/climate-change
What Does Net Zero Mean?
/the-big-questions/net-zero
Can Green Growth Work?
/the-big-questions/green-growth
What Will Britain Look Like in 2050?
/the-big-questions/britain-2050
Section 6: Interactive Tools (Future)
Build Your Own Budget
/tools/build-a-budget
Design Your Tax System
/tools/design-tax-system
Test Your Political Philosophy
/tools/political-philosophy-quiz
Build Your Fair Society
/tools/build-fair-society