ABSTRACT
A classless society would be one in which class was no longer a significant variable in a person’s life chances. This chapter reviews the wealth of evidence which demonstrates the continuing link between class position and standards of health among children and young people: the poorer the child, the poorer her or his health. Poverty increases the chances of poor health and low educational achievement in children, which in turn reduces their prospects of employment and decent wages. As it is the poverty and inequality which causes the poorer health, and not the ill-health which leads to poverty and inequality, it is the poverty and inequality which needs to be addressed first and foremost.
